Potentially deadly nitrous oxide found at Co Down GAA club

A GAA club in County Down issued a community safety warning after reportedly finding a large haul of nitrous oxide on its grounds. St Patrick’s GAC in Saul, near Downpatrick, said it secured access to its facilities outside operational hours after the PSNI and the Northern Ireland Fire Service were alerted following the discovery of concealed nitrous oxide canisters in a car parked at the club. The club described the substance as potentially deadly “laughing gas,” often released from small canisters into balloons and then inhaled. The article notes that prolonged use can cause vitamin B12 deficiency, anaemia, and nerve damage, and warns that medical experts have previously linked use to spinal injuries and, in some cases, death. It also references legislation that bans knowing or reckless supply for inhalation, with penalties that can reach seven years in jail, while noting such cans may still be purchased online. The club urged vigilance and said the earlier concern reported in Ballynahinch in September last year involved similar findings.