A DISTRICT Court judge in Limerick has expressed surprise at the number of defendants asking to be readmitted to prison to avail of substance abuse programmes.
At the monthly sitting of Borrisokane District Court yesterday, Judge Conal Gibbons said there was a greater likelihood that such people would get assistance in the prison system than those outside the system.
Judge Gibbons was dealing with a defendant who expressed a wish to be sent back to Castlerea Prison to continue a detoxification programme he was undergoing there.
John Campbell (39), Church Street, Tralee, Co Kerry, was on a number of public order charges involving disruption he caused in Nenagh Hospital on March 15th, 2007. He was sentenced to three months with a recommendation of transfer to Castlerea.
Meanwhile, Galway District Court heard yesterday that a heroin addict fled to England in December to get away from the drugs scene in Galway and to avoid going to Castlerea Prison because he believed there was no drugs treatment programme there.
James Lynch (25), Two Mile Ditch, Castlegar, Galway, returned home last weekend and was arrested by gardaí on foot of three bench warrants issued by Galway District Court last year when he failed to appear before the court to answer three sets of charges.
Mr Lynch was arrested on August 11th last year after admitting to driving a car which had been stolen by other youths in Ballybane, Galway. On October 2nd last he was caught driving a motorbike without insurance in Ballybane.
He was sentenced to nine months with a recommendation of transfer from Castlerea Prison.
A Prison Service spokesman said treatment was available in Castlerea for any prisoner with addiction problems, but he could not say if methadone maintenance was used.