Pubdate: Tue, 04 Mar 2008
Source: Daily Record (UK)
Copyright: 2008 Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/111
Author: Mark Mcgivern
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

MUM EVICTED OVER SON'S CRACK DEALS

Exclusive Council Target Families Who Let Pushers Thrive

A DRUG dealer's mum has been kicked out of her home for  letting her 
son ply his evil trade.

Ruby Hart, 49, was evicted from her council house  despite no drugs 
charges being brought against her.

Council bosses acted after investigators found that she  let son 
David, 26, operate a drop-in service for  addicts buying crack cocaine.

Yesterday, Renfrewshire Council won an eviction decree  at Paisley 
Sheriff Court - and councillors vowed there  would be more.

Brian Lawson, convener of the council housing and  community safety 
policy board, said: "This is the first  time that the family of a 
convicted drug dealer have  lost their home for allowing it to be 
used to supply  drugs.

"We won't tolerate drug dealers in our communities and  we won't 
tolerate the people who shelter them.

"We're determined to support local people by taking  dealers out of 
their neighbourhoods."

Neighbours had complained of deals being done at all  hours in 
Paisley's drug-ravaged Ferguslie Park estate.

Police were called in last year, as part of Operation  Triplicate, a 
joint crackdown on hard drugs in the  community by Renfrewshire 
Council and Strathclyde  Police.

David Hart was convicted of using the three-bedroom  property at 
Darkwood Crescent to sell crack.

He got two years in jail and is now back on the estate  with an electronic tag.

Mrs Hart was thrown out of her home along with daughter  Louise 
yesterday morning and is now holed up at her mum  Liz's home nearby.

Last night, her mother said: "Ruby didn't know anything  about what 
David was up to.

"He was guilty and he is serving his time but this has  had a 
terrible effect on Ruby's health. Her nerves are  shattered.

"She is just an ordinary woman and she was not a bad neighbour."

But last night, one local scoffed: "If Ruby didn't know  what was 
going on, she was the only person in Fergie  Park who didn't.

"David Hart was selling drugs to all sorts. It was like  a 
drive-through service. People would come by in taxis  at all hours 
and get their gear from Hart, then just  head off.

"It was so brazen and decent people around here were  disgusted at 
the way it went on.

"This is the best news we have heard in years. The Hart  family are 
neighbours from hell and they don't give a  damn about anyone else."

Chief Superintendent John Harkin, of Strathclyde  Police, said: 
"There will be many more convicted drug  dealers from this area as a 
result of Operation  Triplicate and this should serve as a warning to 
anyone thinking about supplying illegal drugs."

Heroin dealer Gordon McLaughlin, 51, of Paisley, was  the first 
council tenant to be evicted as a result of  Operation Triplicate.
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