This article is from page 3 of the 2013-03-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
A CIRCUIT Court judge has expressed concern over the shortage of treatment facilities for people seeking help with drug addiction.
Judge Gerard Keyes was speaking at Ennis Circuit Court on Friday where he presided over three sepa- rate cases where the absence of residential treatment facilities emerged as an issue in sentencing.
In all cases, the accused had suffered or are suffering from serious drug addictions. The men are all aged between 20 and 24.
Sentencing was adjourned in all cases pending reports on the availability of places at residential drug treatment centres.
Judge Keyes said greater availability of drug treatment and rehabilitation facilities would save money for the State in the long term. In the case of one West Clare man described as having a chronic heroin addiction, Judge Keyes said that if the accused went back on the streets without access to appropriate services, “the chances of re-offending because of drug use would be high.”
A letter of support from homeless campaigner Fr Peter McVerry was given to the court in the case of another man who developed an addiction to heroin at the age of 15.
He said, “Fr McVerry is doing what the State should be doing and that is what concerns me.”
Judge Keyes said that the absence of suitable facilities for people seeking to break their addiction to drugs is making difficult for judges to structure sentences appropriately.
He said in one case there was no place to go after prison for one 24year-old man who had benefitted from addiction counselling services in prison.