Ireland - Cocaine traces in 90pc of clubs and pubs on the same day that Katy French is buried

An RTE 'Prime Time' investigation has confirmed the widespread use of cocaine throughout the country, with traces of the Class A drug found in over 90pc of toilets tested in clubs, pubs, and workplaces.

Swabs were taken from nearly 300 bathrooms, in pubs, clubs, workplaces and other venues as part of the investigation. Nine out of 10 of the samples proved positive for the drug.

The results are to be published after a week in which cocaine was linked to the cases of several young lives that were cut short. These included the death of young Waterford man John Grey (23), who lost his 14-day battle for life after eating damp cocaine. His death came just four days after his 21-year-old friend, Kevin Doyle, died.

Traces of cocaine were also found during medical tests in the blood of model Katy French, whose life-support machine was also turned off this week.

RTE's 'Prime Time' will tonight air its investigative probe into the dangerous creep of cocaine through small villages, towns and cities and its links to criminal activity.

Dr John Fox, head of forensic science at the Dublin Institute of Technology, who analysed the tests, used the same techniques forensic scientists would apply for a court case.

[q url="http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhmhsnsnkfau/"]Model Katy French will be buried in Co Wicklow today.

Ms French, 24, died in hospital on Thursday after collapsing at a friend’s house four days earlier.

Senior detectives from the Garda's drug and serious crime units are now investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.

A funeral service was held in St Patrick’s Church in Powerscourt, Enniskerry, at 2pm today and Ms French's body was later buried in the adjoining cemetery.

Parents John and Janet and sister Jill had maintained a bedside vigil as the model lay critically ill on a life support machine at Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan.

Gardaí did not disclose the results of a post mortem exam on her body but requested further toxicology tests.
The model recently revealed she had used cocaine but claimed she had quit the drug.

Born in Switzerland, French and her family moved to Ireland when she was a young girl and settled in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow.

After she left school she turned to modelling and was an immediate hit in the industry.

French’s celebrity status seemed to peak after last January’s high-profile break-up of her relationship with her ex-fiancé.

Ireland’s growing cocaine culture was debated by politicians in the Dáil last week in the wake of a number of recent tragic events linked to the drug.

In the past week, two Waterford City men aged in their early 20s died after they ate cocaine at a house party.

Their families issued public warnings to other young people about the dangers of the drug.