WATERFORD councillor John Hearne has been threatened by criminal figures in the past as a result of highlighting drug-related intimidation.

The Sinn Fein councillor says around 40 people have also come to him in the last three years because of this issue – and he knows of many, many cases where cars have been destroyed and people have been seriously attacked over debts owed to drug dealers.

John works closely with Waterford gardai and over the years has passed on much information to them about the activities of dealers and criminal gangs operating in and atround Waterford.

As the the investigations continue into this week’s fatal arson attack in Birchwood, he spoke on ‘Deise Today’ this morning (Friday) about the wider issues of drug debt intimation which is believed to be the motive for the attack on the English family home.

You can listen back by clicking on the ‘play now’ button….

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