CFAD Meet With the IMC in Belfast

Last month in it's 22ND report, the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) alleged that Concerned Families Against Drugs (CFAD) were, 'a vigilante group who was responsible for a number of punishment shootings and pipe-bombings of suspected Drug Dealers' in the North Belfast area.

Although, we were surprised and dismayed at these unfounded allegations, given that the IMC had not contacted CFAD before issuing its report. CFAD complained to the IMC through our legal representative and were subsequently invited to meet with the IMC today (8/12/09).

The meeting itself was courteous despite the 'charges' being levelled against us by the IMC. We were glad to have been able to put our case forward to the nine Commissioners and left them in no doubt about the growing scourge of drugs and associated crime in our community. We also informed them of our group's success in exposing Drug Dealers to the wider community and how, two leading Dealers had been able to purchase and run a garage directly facing Antrim Road Barracks in which the RUC/PSNI Drug Squad have its offices.

We also made the point of how some so-called Community Workers who are also members of North Belfast Sinn Fein who have been deeply involved a smear campaign against our group and activists. Instead of helping to produce the resources needed to tackle deprivation and hopelessness in working-class areas such as, Ardoyne. CFAD also detailed the lack of targeting of known drug dealers by the RUC/PSNI in the area and how these parasites were still able to swan about the area in their flash cars selling children dangerous drugs. While some of these teenagers were now addicated to these substances and had involved themselves in serious criminality to fund their habits.

Finally, CFAD told how to date none of its members had been arrested, questioned or charged with any illegal activities connected to our anti-drug campaign. We now await the IMC's findings and hope an apology is included.

Arrests of CFAD Members was Politically Motivated

Political Policing: The RUC/PSNI

Throughout the past year or so, CFAD has taken a large amount of dangerous narcotics off the streets, highlighted the scourge of drugs in working-class communities and exposed dozens of drug barons to the wider public. Our record speaks for itself and people who live in Nationalist areas of North Belfast know only too well, the positive impact our anti-drug campaign has had.

Unfortunately, there are a small number of highly-paid Community Workers/Sinn Fein members. Who have engaged in a concerted campaign of vilification, rumours and lies about every member of the CFAD collective. We have strong evidence of this behaviour and many of us have logged this with our Solicitor to ensure we were not railroaded to Court by the RUC/PSNI on spurious charges.

In July of this year, Aidan Ferguson CFAD Activist was brutally arrested by the RUC/PSNI under the watchful gaze of television cameras who had been tipped off to wait outside Mr. Ferguson's home. Thankfully, Aidan was released without charge a few hours later. Due to the unbalanced nature of the media coverage, Aidan and his young family were forced to move home after he and his wife received death threats from Loyalist Paramilitaries.

Last month, the 'Independent' Monitoring Commission (IMC) included CFAD in it's 22Nd Report, which claimed that we had been involved in a number of shootings of drug dealers and had been responsible for pipe-bombings in North Belfast. The Commission also claimed CFAD was a 'Vigilante group' .

The following week Irish tabloid newspaper, The Sunday World, printed an unsubstantiated article which claimed that CFAD was linked to the armed Republican group, ONH. The story included the names and photographs of prominent members of CFAD and stated that we were 'intent on bringing the North back to the bad old days of the Troubles'.

In direct response to these serious allegations, CFAD Spokesman, Martin Og Meehan was detained by the RUC/PSNI at a checkpoint on Sunday 29th November, 2009. He was badly assaulted by two members of the patrol who proceeded to spray a number of bursts of CS Gas into his face before he was handcuffed and arrested. Mr. Meehan immediately demanded medical assistance because he suffers from a serious heart condition and was bluntly informed; he will have to wait until he See's a Doctor. Martin eventually seen a 'Police Doctor' after some two hours who informed the RUC/PSNI they needed to take the prisoner to Hospital immediately. Before releasing the former Republican prisoner, he was informed that he would be charged with assaulting a Police Officer at a later date. Martin Og has since contacted his Solicitor and the Police Ombudsman's Office to pursue a complaint at the heavy-handiness of his arrest.

Later the same night, another prominent member of CFAD, Thomas Cosgrove was walking home. When he was also detained and questioned by the RUC/PSNI in Ardoyne. After refusing to answer one particular question, he too was assaulted, handcuffed and arrested. Mr. Cosgrove was held for a number of hours in custody before being charged with assaulting a Police Officer and released on bail. During his arrest, Thomas was approached by two members of the Special Branch who informed him, 'if you don't give us information we wish to have, your life will be hell'. He rightly refused to assist them in their quest for information about CFAD activities. Around twelve hours after his release, Thomas' home was given a full search by the RUC/PSNI.

Concerned Families Against Drugs (CFAD) demand the immediate end to RUC/PSNI harassment and intimidation and call on fellow community groups and Politicans to show solidarity with us. We also call upon those so-called Republicans attempting to smear us, to have a shred of decency and join the 21st century. Finally, our anti-drug campaign will continue unabated!

CFAD Respond to Statement by Nigel Dodds

A Chara,

CONCERNED FAMILIES AGAINST DRUGS (CFAD) categorically rejects the recent statement by Nigel Dodds M.P. In which he states we are a ‘vigilante group seeking to usurp the rule of law and order and using violence’ for our own ends. Unfortunately, Mr. Dodds has used comments by the IMC concerning CFAD to accuse us of ‘indulging in criminal attacks’.

CFAD have never been involved in actions described by the DUP Deputy-Leader and are at a loss as to why the MP has set us up as a target? This dangerous felon-setting has now targeted us and our activists for arrest, imprisonment or worse, killing by Loyalist Paramilitaries.

CFAD was established in September, 2008 as a radical and community-based collective to campaign against the upsurge of drug abuse and associated criminality in the Ardoyne area of North Belfast. Ever since, a number of Sinn Fein- linked Community Workers and certain Journalists have without evidence attempted to smear, vilify and criminalise us. To date, this particular strategy has failed miserably and in recent days, the Sunday World and right-wing North Belfast MP, Nigel Dodds have sought to link us with armed Republican groups.

We are an open and independent collective that consist of local parents, residents and community activists committed to tackling illegal drugs, raising awareness and building a safer community. We have also provided a focus for the community with a series of protests, exposures and of course community lobbying. We are not an armed group, nor are connected to any armed groups. The DUP Deputy-Leader, has yet had the decency to contact CFAD, ahead of issuing his allegations against us.

Finally we suggest, that the negative energies of the DUP/Sinn Fein and these Journalists would be better spent questioning the inactivity of highly-paid Community Workers and the PSNI who clearly do nothing to seriously combat drugs and related crime in working-class communities across North Belfast. Obviously this failure has created a void whereby Republican groups have exploited the situation. For our part, CFAD will continue to identify, expose and confront the scourge of drugs in Ardoyne and our anti-drug campaign will continue unabated.

Le Meas,
Martin Og Meehan
(CFAD)

CFAD Highlight New Lodge Drug Find

Sammy Cusick (CFAD) with the Cannibis Plants

Early this morning (18th November, 2009) a number of North Belfast parents walking their children to school. Discovered the remnants of three large cannibis plants in the New Lodge area, close to the Star of the Sea Primary School. They immediately contacted Concerned Families Against Drugs, who contacted the School Principal and local community workers.

'CFAD condemn the drug dealers for leaving these dangerous plants outside school and urge local parents, youth workers and the wider community to be vigilant as to the dangers of drugs!

We also thank parents, the New Lodge C.E.P. and Principal for helping us take these safely off the streets'.

Drug Barons remain the most potent problem in working-class communities today. They don't care about ordinary people and only add to anti-social activity, crime and misery.

IMC Respond to CFAD

The following e-mail was sent to the IMC on November 5th, 2009:

A chara,

'It is with great dismay and disgust that we witnessed your Commission named Concerned Families Against Drugs (CFAD) as being 'behind the rise in shootings and pipe-bombings in Belfast'.
Firstly, we would like to register our complaint that no-one from the IMC has had the decency to contact CFAD before including scurrilous allegations against us in your 22nd Report....
CFAD would also like to know, given the basis of your report. Where did you recieve your information? Where did the IMC gain this information from? Regards shootings and pipe-bombings etc, connected to drug dealers....CFAD have never been involved in such actions therefore, are at a loss as to why the IMC has set us up as a target? This dangerous felon-setting has now targeted us and our members for arrest, imprisonment or worse killing by Loyalist Paramilitaries.
CONCERNED FAMILIES AGAINST DRUGS (CFAD) was established in September, 2008 as a community-based, radical and campaigning pressure group. In response to growing problem of young people involved in drug abuse and associated criminality in the Ardoyne area of North Belfast. We consist of local parents, residents and community activists committed to addressing the scourge of drugs and building a safer community. Our aim is to tackle drug dealers, through an effective anti-drug campaign and raising awareness about the dangers of drugs. Since our foundation, CFAD has provided a focus to reduce the availability of drugs. With a series of protests, exposures and of course political and community lobbying.

CFAD challenenge you (IMC) to produce evidence of illegal activity by our open community group and if not then retract your statement. Otherwise, we will seek legal advice on this serious matter'.

Is Mise,
Martin Og Meehan
Concerned Families Against Drugs


Here is the IMC response, dated 10th November, 2009:

Dear Sir

Thank you for your recent communication.

The issues you have raised have been brought to the attention of the Commissioners for their consideration.

Yours faithfully
Alison J White
Joint Secretariat

CFAD now await a full apology from the IMC Commissioners........

CFAD Reject IMC Claims

A Chara,

CFAD categorically deny the scurrilous allegations levelled at our community group by the NON-Independant Monitoring Commission and so-called Sinn Fein 'community workers' who clearly do nothing to seriously try and combat the scourge of drugs and related crime in our areas.

These same inactivists call on our beleaguered communities to support the RUC/PSNI who readidly recruit the suppliers and dealers of death and destruction.....Statement Ends

(C.F.A.D.)

Lethal drug blamed for rise in number of people hospitalised

Ardoyne Priest, Fr. Gary Donegan & Martin Og Meehan of CFAD

A batch of a potentially fatal cocaine-based drug has been discovered just days after a young West Belfast man lost his life following a suspected overdose. The new drug, a type of freebase cocaine that goes under the street name ‘Magic,’ is being blamed for a rise in the number of young people attending local hospitals for treatment.

For the second time in weeks, CFAD discovered lethal drugs in the Greater Ardoyne area and met with two local Priests to not only highlight the ongoing problem but to also have these narcotics disposed of safely.

Concerned Families Against Drugs also take this opportunity to reject media claims that it was involved in issuing death threats against Ardoyne residents. CFAD are a community-based organisation campaigning for an end to the drugs scourge in our area and do not issue threats of this nature. It would be productive for the RUC/PSNI to give those people threatened proper information, rather than giving them limited news about their personal security.

For our part, CFAD continues the struggle against drug dealers who plague our community with deadly drugs.......