A LIMERICK District Court Judge has described as “worrying” the increase in instances where members of the public attempt to pass drugs to prisoners while in custody in Limerick Prison. Judge Tom O’Donnell’s comments came as a 27-year-old woman appeared before a sitting of Limerick District Court charged with bringing a controlled substance into Limerick Prison contrary to Sec 15(c) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977.
The county Limerick woman appeared before Judge O’Donnell where the court was told that the accused allegedly attempted to pass 55 tablets to a prisoner during a visit.
The arresting officer, Garda Colleran, told the court of prison officers apprehending the woman as she attempted to orally pass the tablets to a prisoner.
Defence solicitor, Sarah Ryan, addressed the court following hearing details of the incident and noted that the drug in question was prescribed to the woman for pain relief following a very bad car accident in which she suffered injuries to her back.
Judge O’Donnell noted that these types of offences are on the increase and worryingly, many go undetected and are very serious.
“I must congratulate and praise the work of the prison officers and the gardai in this incident as these types of crimes are on a very serious rise.
“I’ve noted at least three or four of these in the early parts of this year and its something that could get out of hand very easily.
“I must also say that the doctor in question would be very disappointed to know that a patient of theirs would be obtaining tablets, pain killers in this instance, and keeping them to pass on to others.
“These are disturbing times for such crimes but I do take into account the early plea and the co-operation offered by the accused. I also note the seriousness of the mitigating factors for the defendant”.
Marking the facts of the case proven, Judge O’Donnell issued that a probation report be submitted to the court and subsequent to that, issued bail terms of 100 euro to the accused.
The court will hear the findings of the report on June 11.
