Claims that Knock is 'a gateway airport for drugs' strongly denied
SUGGESTIONS that Ireland West Airport Knock is an easy option for those wanting to smuggle drugs into this country have been rejected by both the Chief Garda Superintendent in Mayo, Pat Diskin, and the chief executive of Mayo County Council, Peter Hynes.
Both men were commenting at a meeting of Mayo Joint Policing Committee at the airport after committee members were given a thorough briefing on security at the facility by the airport's head of emergency services, Pearse Concannon.
One member of the committee, Senator Michelle Mulherin, while welcoming the overall security standards at the airport, was critical of the fact there is no sniffer dog on duty at the moment to detect drugs on incoming passengers and luggage.
Customs officers are involved in drug detection duties at the country's ports and airports. Up to some time ago, a sniffer dog was used at Knock. However, the animal has been withdrawn.
Senator Mulherin expressed disappointment that the chairman of the Revenue Commissioners, who are in charge of customs operations, had not sent a representative to the meeting to address the sniffer dog issue.
Senator Mulherin said over 700,000 people were using the airport every year, half of them inbound, and she was concerned that the facility would not develop as the 'soft underbelly' as regards the smuggling of narcotics here.
She was supported in her stance by Councillor Christy Hyland who highlighted the activities of what he described as 'career criminals' nowadays. Drug related deaths nationwide for the year 2014 were up by 600, the councillor claimed.
Council cathaoirleach, Al McDonnell, said he would be deeply disappointed if the main message that went out from the meeting was that a lot of drugs were coming into the region through the airport.
The majority of drugs coming into Ireland was coming in by sea, Councillor McDonnell maintained.
Chief Supt. Diskin said the force in Mayo was making progress as regards drug detection and extra resources were being directed at the illicit drugs situation in the county.
The chief superintendent said he was satisfied that the airport was not a main hub for the entry of drugs into the region.
This point of view was echoed by the council chief executive Peter Hynes who said security at the airport ranked with the best in Europe.
Mr. Hynes said he believed the region's lengthy coastline was a much easier option for drug traffickers rather than Ireland West or other airports.
Revenue would be invited to a future meeting to outline its position on the sniffer dog situation at the airport, the chief executive explained.