DUBLIN BUS HAS downloaded the CCTV footage from one of its vehicles after a passenger found what appeared to be blood and a number of liquid medicine dispensers in front of a seat yesterday.
The bus, which was servicing the 39a route between UCD Belfield and Ongar, was taken off the road once the driver was informed of the items.
According to the transport company, the driver followed all protocols after the customer told him what she had found. He informed Operations Control immediately and passengers were transferred to another bus.
“The vehicle was brought to its garage and thoroughly cleaned as per the strict guidelines that are in place,” Dublin Bus said in a statement to TheJournal.ie.
A spokesperson answering queries from this website said the items found were liquid medicine dispensers. She confirmed that no needles were present with the dispensers.
“Dublin Bus has downloaded the CCTV footage from the vehicle and is investigating the matter,” concluded the statement.
Tony Geoghegan, CEO of Merchants Quay Homeless & Drugs Service, told TheJournal.ie that while heroin users prefer smaller needles and syringes, it would not be unusual for the larger barrels to be used.
“Injecting drug use has changed over the years,” he said. “Tablet use is more prevalent – where tablets are crushed and that requires more liquid and larger barrels.”
He added, however, that it would be unusual for the barrels to be discarded in such a fashion as they are re-usable.
The image has circulated on Facebook and Twitter since last night. Some suggested the items in the image were ‘party shooters’ that are filled with alcohol jelly. Dublin Bus had responded to social media users asking for verification of the bus route and time.
The investigation comes just weeks after TheJournal.ie revealed how a seven-year-old boy was pricked with a used syringe while travelling on the DART.
Geoghegan said the incidents highlight the city’s need to deal pragmatically with the drugs problem and equip authorities and public services to deal with it effectively.
Additional reporting by Nicky Ryan
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