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| Peter Robinson calls for police action over drug linked deaths | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson has said "police need to act" following the deaths of eight people that could be linked to a lethal batch of drugs. | |
| Police are investigating to establish whether those who died took a tablet that they thought was ecstasy. | |
| It is understood five of the people who died are from east Belfast. | |
| Mr Robinson said police needed to pursue the matter. | |
| "It must be a massive concern to people, particularly parents in east Belfast and beyond, that this kind of thing can happen," the East Belfast assembly member said. | |
| "It indicates that the police cannot relax on these matters, they need to pursue, because it is well-known who is selling drugs in east Belfast. | |
| "It is well-known the outlets for the sale of drugs and I think the police have to act." | |
| Earlier, a Christian pastor in south Belfast said his community was feeling "deep hurt" that the death of a man from Sandy Row could be linked to the lethal batch of drugs. | |
| Pastor Paul Burns knew Gareth Morrison who died last week. | |
| Pastor Burns said the drug suppliers were "only loyal to the wallet". | Pastor Burns said the drug suppliers were "only loyal to the wallet". |
| "Those that push the drugs that get arrested are usually people that have addictive substance abuse problems themselves," he added. | "Those that push the drugs that get arrested are usually people that have addictive substance abuse problems themselves," he added. |
| "It is the ones behind, who are pushing these tablets that are not got, you call them paramilitaries, the only thing they are loyal to is the wallet and making money for themselves. | "It is the ones behind, who are pushing these tablets that are not got, you call them paramilitaries, the only thing they are loyal to is the wallet and making money for themselves. |
| "They are not loyal to their country, they are not loyal to their community, they are peddling death, they are peddling murder and they need to be taken off the streets." | "They are not loyal to their country, they are not loyal to their community, they are peddling death, they are peddling murder and they need to be taken off the streets." |
| Forensic tests are expected to reveal whether the deaths of the eight people are linked to a green tablet marked with a crown or castle. | Forensic tests are expected to reveal whether the deaths of the eight people are linked to a green tablet marked with a crown or castle. |
| Pastor Burns said Mr Morrison's death was a tragedy. | Pastor Burns said Mr Morrison's death was a tragedy. |
| "Gareth was such a lovely fella, I called him the gentle giant," he said. | "Gareth was such a lovely fella, I called him the gentle giant," he said. |
| "He was always there for everybody. | "He was always there for everybody. |
| "There is deep hurt inside my own church, because his family attend my church, there is deep hurt in the community of Sandy Row. | "There is deep hurt inside my own church, because his family attend my church, there is deep hurt in the community of Sandy Row. |
| "I would say I am angry, I am angry that such a young man has gone so early in life, because life is given by God to be able to grow up and be able to have children to be able to move forward in life and to be able to live a long life and enjoy life. | "I would say I am angry, I am angry that such a young man has gone so early in life, because life is given by God to be able to grow up and be able to have children to be able to move forward in life and to be able to live a long life and enjoy life. |
| 'Fear' | |
| "To go in your twenties is a tragedy." | "To go in your twenties is a tragedy." |
| Over the past number of weeks, seven people died in Belfast and one in the North West of Northern Ireland. They were all aged in their 20s and 30s. | Over the past number of weeks, seven people died in Belfast and one in the North West of Northern Ireland. They were all aged in their 20s and 30s. |
| It is understood five of the people who died are from east Belfast. | It is understood five of the people who died are from east Belfast. |
| East Belfast PUP councillor Dr John Kyle said there was "shock, grief, fear and concern" about what had happened. | East Belfast PUP councillor Dr John Kyle said there was "shock, grief, fear and concern" about what had happened. |
| "People are very worried that other young people will suffer the same fate," he added. | "People are very worried that other young people will suffer the same fate," he added. |
| "There is rising anxiety in east Belfast about it." | "There is rising anxiety in east Belfast about it." |