“No such instruction or advice was issued by An Garda Síochána”. Gardai have denied telling a Cork city shop to stop stocking and selling Animal Bar chocolate. After rumours swirled that Gardai had approached the Centra store to ask them to remove the chocolate bars from shelves, local Gardai have come out to say they gave “no such instruction or advice.”
Shoppers at Whelton’s Centra at Denroche’s Cross off Magazine Road spotted odd signage that suggested the store had removed the bars from sale due to Gardai advice. A sign in the confectionary section of the shop read: “We no longer sell Animal Bars”. In smaller print, it also read: “Request from Gardai.” In a statement released by An Garda Síochána today, they denied it. They said: “Gardai are aware of an image circulating on social media which refers to a sign displayed in a business premises in Cork, “No such instruction or advice was issued by An Garda Síochána, “Local Gardai have liaised with the business and the sign has since been removed.”
The Centra staff have taken down the signage. Rumours have been spreading online regarding the reason for the bars being taken off sale. Many social media users have suggested that the tinfoil that the bars are wrapped in were being used by drug users to smoke heroin.
One Reddit user commented on a post about the situation: “The guards don’t want them sold because heroin users can use the foil to smoke gear on. I know cos I used to do it.” Another said: “The foil on animal bars is much thinner than normal tin foil and is more effective for smoking heroin. It’s very like the foil given out in needle exchanges.”
One woman claiming to work at the Centra shop wrote on Twitter: “I work here and yes it’s ridiculous, but they were stealing them constantly.” Dean Whelton, owner of the Denroche’s Cross Centra told Cork Beo: “That sign was done at our own discretion so addicts would not give staff grief.
“This decision was taken by me, the owner. “To be fair, the Gardai are very active on this issue locally which has grown in this area in the past few months. “It’s easier to stop selling products that can be used as drug accessories, so you don’t attract undesirables.” Nestle has said they are unaware of any issue.