An Ennis Priest says he believes there's a widespread problem with drugs in the town.
Fr Paddy Conway's comments come after he discovered a burglar in his home – the man in question is struggling with addiction.
The case has attracted national attention after Fr. Conway drove him into town.
On December 7th this month 73 year-old Fr Paddy Conway, returned home to find that a concrete block had been put through a window, leaving broken glass all over the floor.
A short time later he found a man hiding in his wardobe and discovered that he had taken €20- He persuaded him to hand back the money and drove the burglar into town before reporting the incident to Gardaí.
Michael Clune of Bridgeview, Roslevan pleaded guilty to burglary at Ennis District Court, which heard that he has struggled with substance and alcohol abuse.
Judge Patrick Durcan handed down an eight month suspended jail term consecutive to the eight months in jail that Clune is currently serving.
Fr Conway says he forgives him.
But Fr Conway says he was slow to report the incident to Gardaí as he didn't believe that jail was the right solution.
He believes drugs pose a significant problem in Ennis and in other parts of the country too.
