“DROP THAT NOW!” — IRISH MUM’S HORROR AFTER HER 5-YEAR-OLD SON FINDS BLOOD-FILLED HEROIN SYRINGE NEAR PLAYGROUND A FIVE-YEAR-OLD BOY was rushed to hospital after innocently picking up a syringe containing blood and suspected heroin near a children’s play area in Cork. His terrified mother, **Jade Millar**, has now spoken out about the frightening incident — warning that children playing in the area could be exposed to discarded drug paraphernalia. The incident happened near **The Lough** in Cork last Friday, just around the corner from the family home. Little Ben reportedly found the syringe and removed the rubber cap from the needle. He then began squeezing and spraying its contents. It was only when a neighbour saw what the boy was holding that the alarm was raised. The neighbour reportedly shouted: **“Ben, drop that now!”** ## HIS MUM RUSHED HIM TO HOSPITAL Jade said she was terrified when she realized what had happened. She immediately put her son into the car and drove him to **Cork University Hospital**. Medical staff asked what had been inside the syringe, and Jade told them she had been informed it contained blood and heroin. Doctors believed Ben had **not been punctured by the needle**, but the youngster was kept under observation. His mother said the family has been told to monitor him for two weeks. “He was lucky,” she said, warning that the outcome could have been very different if the needle had penetrated his skin. ## THEN ANOTHER SHOCKING DISCOVERY The frightening discovery did not end with the syringe. A nearby hedge reportedly contained a bag holding **heroin, multiple needles and several packets of prescription tablets**. Jade contacted Cork City Council, while Gardaí also attended the area and removed the items. But she later said she found another syringe on the ground on Sunday — raising fresh fears about what children could encounter while playing nearby. ## “ALL IT TAKES IS FOR THEM TO STAND ON ONE” Jade is now calling for greater Garda patrols around The Lough and nearby areas, including Turner’s Cross. She also wants a pedestrian access gate near the Lough to be permanently locked, arguing that it could be providing easier access for people involved in drug activity. Her concern is simple: Children use the area every day. And a discarded needle can become a serious danger within seconds. **“All it takes is for them to stand on one and the pin goes into their foot,”** she warned. For Ben, what began as an innocent moment of curiosity ended with a frightening trip to hospital. For his mother, the incident has raised a much bigger question: **How many more dangerous needles could be lying where children play — just waiting to be found?**
“DROP THAT NOW!” — IRISH MUM’S HORROR AFTER HER 5-YEAR-OLD SON FINDS BLOOD-FILLED HEROIN SYRINGE NEAR PLAYGROUND
A FIVE-YEAR-OLD BOY was rushed to hospital after innocently picking up a syringe containing blood and suspected heroin near a children’s play area in Cork.
His terrified mother, Jade Millar, has now spoken out about the frightening incident — warning that children playing in the area could be exposed to discarded drug paraphernalia.
The incident happened near The Lough in Cork last Friday, just around the corner from the family home.
Little Ben reportedly found the syringe and removed the rubber cap from the needle.
He then began squeezing and spraying its contents.
It was only when a neighbour saw what the boy was holding that the alarm was raised.
The neighbour reportedly shouted:
“Ben, drop that now!”
HIS MUM RUSHED HIM TO HOSPITAL
Jade said she was terrified when she realized what had happened.
She immediately put her son into the car and drove him to Cork University Hospital.
Medical staff asked what had been inside the syringe, and Jade told them she had been informed it contained blood and heroin.
Doctors believed Ben had not been punctured by the needle, but the youngster was kept under observation.
His mother said the family has been told to monitor him for two weeks.
“He was lucky,” she said, warning that the outcome could have been very different if the needle had penetrated his skin.
THEN ANOTHER SHOCKING DISCOVERY
The frightening discovery did not end with the syringe.
A nearby hedge reportedly contained a bag holding heroin, multiple needles and several packets of prescription tablets.
Jade contacted Cork City Council, while Gardaí also attended the area and removed the items.
But she later said she found another syringe on the ground on Sunday — raising fresh fears about what children could encounter while playing nearby.
“ALL IT TAKES IS FOR THEM TO STAND ON ONE”
Jade is now calling for greater Garda patrols around The Lough and nearby areas, including Turner’s Cross.
She also wants a pedestrian access gate near the Lough to be permanently locked, arguing that it could be providing easier access for people involved in drug activity.
Her concern is simple:
Children use the area every day.
And a discarded needle can become a serious danger within seconds.
“All it takes is for them to stand on one and the pin goes into their foot,” she warned.
For Ben, what began as an innocent moment of curiosity ended with a frightening trip to hospital.
For his mother, the incident has raised a much bigger question:
How many more dangerous needles could be lying where children play — just waiting to be found?
