TERRIFIED COUPLE DENY DRUGS LINK FOLLOWING PROTEST OUTSIDE HOME

A TERRIFIED couple, whose council house has been the focus of a Sinn Fein
anti-drugs protest, strongly denied, last night, that they were still
involved in drugs.

Well-known Sinn Fein member Martin Ferris led up to 60 people to the home
of Michael Bentley (30), unemployed, and Gillian Purcell (22), at
Shanakill, Tralee, Co Kerry, earlier this week.

Mr Ferris claimed he had evidence that Mr Bentley, who 18 months ago
confessed in public to being a drug dealer, had since resumed his
activities. However, the couple, who have five children, ranging in age
from 11 months to five years, said that this was not true.

"In fact, Michael had stopped dealing eight months before Mr Ferris first
came to our house 18 months ago. No drugs have since been sold from this
house and Mr Ferris is really only bringing up the past,'' stated Ms
Purcell, who is five months pregnant.

Ms Purcell, a native of Knocknaheeny, Cork City, said that Mr Bentley made
a public admission and a public apology for drug dealing, at a meeting
organised by Mr Ferris, in Shanakill, 18 months ago. He also undertook to
stop dealing.

Pointing to the sparsely-furnished house, she said that if they were
involved in drug dealing, they would have more comforts and would not have
rent arrears of IEP800. Sinn Fein, meanwhile, said they had been approached
by the residents of Shanakill over the high volume of traffic to and from
the house, adding that the people of the area had a right to defend their
children from illness and death as a result of drugs.

Mr Ferris said he had information from a number of sources, including
people who had purchased drugs, that Mr Bentley was still drug dealing.
Asked why he wasn't passing on the information to the gardai, he said he
could not do so out of respect for the people who told him.

He added that some people were very reluctant to go into open court to give
evidence because they had a fear of the drug dealers.

He denied claims that he intimidated Ms Purcell, or broke the law in any way.

Chief Supt Fred Garvey, Tralee, said he was "very unhappy'' about the sort
of activity that took place outside the house in Shanakill, earlier this week.

He said certain sections of society could not be allowed take the law into
their own hands on the issue.

"The gardai are there to deal with any question of drug usage, or supply,
and anyone with information should go to the gardai in the strictest
confidence,'' Chief Supt Garvey emphasised.

Sinn Fein, in a statement, however, said it would continue the campaign
against pushers and dealers and would mount further pickets on the Bentley
and other residences.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski