'It's heartbreaking watching this' judge tells court
“It’s heartbreaking watching this,” Judge Desmond Zaidan commented at a Naas District Court sitting.
He was referring to a woman who appeared before him on theft allegations and who has a crack cocaine addiction.
He criticised the methods of dealing with people afflicted with drug addiction - particularly the use of methadone, which is often prescribed to people using heroin.
He said the methods of dealing with the issue have failed and the authorities sometimes swap one drug for another.
“You are wasting yourself away,” he told the woman, adding that if she was not an addict she would be a decent person.
He also criticised a proposal to provide hostel accommodation for the women because this could mean she would be living alongside people with psychological or psychiatric issues.
He said that what is needed are addiction treatment centres located across Ireland, to which the courts are empowered to send people and where they are obliged to stay to complete a treatment course. He added that in other cases courts can refer people to the Central Mental Hospital.
He said the State is not looking after drug addicts properly.
He adjourned the case.