Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly to meet campaigning mum on NI "drugs epidemic"

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Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly have agreed to discuss Northern Ireland's "drug epidemic" with a campaigning mum who lost her daughter in 2023.

Derry mum Pauline Duddy has been campaigning for tougher sentencing for drug dealers since the death of her 21-year-old daughter Jasmin in February 2023.

Jasmin, who struggled with addiction, died at a house in the Galliagh area of Derry city in February after taking the drug Pregabalin with other substances.

Read more: Stop the Street Drugs protesters say 'our sons and daughters are dying'

Read more: Mum of 21-year-old Derry woman who died due to drugs says 'princess' was trying to overcome problem

Pauline has previously met with Justice Minister Naomi Long, and staged several 'Stop the Street Drugs' protests at courthouses.

She met earlier this month with the Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton as she seeks a tougher stance on those supplying drugs.

The First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly have now agreed to meet.

In a letter from the private secretaries of the duo at the head of Northern Ireland's devolved government, it was confirmed to Ms Duddy that a meeting "to discuss the onoing drug epidemic" is now being arranged.

Speaking to Belfast Live, Pauline said: "It's up to the government to take the deaths of the young people in Northern Ireland seriously.

"They need to put in the adequate help and support for the young people suffering with addiction and they need to put in place proper legislation to prevent drug dealers from reoffending.

"I'd like to see the sentencing issue addressed, and we also need to see the health side of things addressed. The services that are there aren't equipped to deal with the high levels of addiction that are there.

"It is an epidemic. You can get drugs quicker than you can get a loaf of bread in Northern Ireland."

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Source: www.belfastlive.co.uk
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