Derry mother holds positive meeting over stronger sentences for drug dealers

A Derry woman who lost her daughter to drugs has vowed to keep campaigning for stiffer sentences for drug dealers.

Pauline Duddy has been campaigning for tougher sentencing since her 21-year-old daughter Jasmin died in February 2023, after taking pregabalin.

Pregabalin is usually prescribed by doctors to treat epilepsy and nerve pain. It was made illegal to possess pregabalin in Northern Ireland without a prescription in 2019.

Since her daughter's death, Ms Duddy has been campaigning for more jail time for drug dealers. She has launched an online petition and held a number of protests outside Derry courthouse.

Ms Duddy has also met with the First and Deputy First Ministers and Justice Minister Naomi Long.

Ms Duddy met with the Alliance Party leader in May 2024 in Stormont where she voiced her concerns around sentencing and how drug dealers were dealt with by the courts.

Following her meeting with Ms Duddy, Naomi Long said that she was "in full agreement" that dealing drugs should not be considered a "victimless crime", and promised to include those concerns in a review of "sentencing policy issues".

On Monday, Ms Duddy held a “positive meeting” with Alan Weir, Head of the Sentencing Policy Unit within the Department of Justice.

Mr Weir confirmed that the concerns raised by Ms Duddy would be included within the scope of the department's planned review of sentencing policy, that would allow the department to undertake the necessary development work to identify changes that could be made to the sentencing framework for these crimes.

Following the meeting, Ms Duddy said she was “delighted” that her concerns have been listened to and would be acted upon by the department.

She said: “It was such a positive meeting. We talked about changing the law from victimless crime for drug dealing because there are victims. People are dying, they're victims and their families are also victims.

“Somebody's actually listened and somebody is actually willing to do something about it.”

However Mr Weir also confirmed that any changes of legislation could not be made during the current mandate in Stormont.

“I had a good conversation with him (Mr Weir),” Ms Duddy said. “I told him that the longer the law stays the same more of our young people will die because of drugs and he fully agreed with me.

“He told me that any changes of the law would have to be made in Westminster but to keep the pressure on and keep campaigning and that's exactly what I'm going to do.”

Foyle MLAs Mark H Durkan and Ciara Ferguson also attended the meeting and praised Ms Duddy for her campaign to have the law changed.

Mr Durkan said: “I was honoured to join Pauline Duddy for her meeting with the Department of Justice at Stormont on Monday. Since the tragic death of her daughter Jasmin, Pauline has shown extraordinary strength and courage in channelling her grief into a determined campaign to ensure no other family has to endure the same loss.

“She has used her voice to advocate for better addiction support and tougher sentencing for those involved in dealing illegal drugs.

“The SDLP has supported Pauline throughout her campaign and we will continue to work alongside her to secure meaningful change – supporting people living with addiction and ensuring those who profit from harmful substances in our communities are held properly to account.”

Sinn Fein MLA Ciara Ferguson said: “No mother should have to go through what Pauline has suffered with the tragic loss of Jasmin and I commend her for her determination to prevent others from doing so.

“We had a positive meeting with the Justice Department lead on the forthcoming Review of Sentencing where we discussed a number of measures that should be considered to help tackle drugs and the harm they cause within communities.

“We look forward to continuing to work with all the relevant agencies and our approach will be guided by best practice and measures that have been demonstrably shown to save lives while ensuring those guilty of supplying drugs are held fully accountable by the police and justice system.”

Recommendations from the Review will then go out to public consultation.

Minister Long said: “Sentencing is a vital part of the justice system in Northern Ireland. It often involves complex considerations and requires a delicate balance to be struck between the rights of defendants on the one hand and the needs and expectations of victims and the public generally on the other.

“This challenging task is performed by a skilled judiciary whose job is to deliver fair and appropriate sentences independently of government in every case which comes before the criminal courts. The role of government is to provide a flexible and robust sentencing framework which is fit for purpose and within which the judiciary can exercise its judicial function effectively.”

Minister Long added: “The aim of this Review is to identify proposals to strengthen the sentencing framework in relation to particular types of offences, to ensure that it continues to be effective and proportionate. The Review will also consider the extent to which current arrangements represent an effective sentencing guidelines mechanism and explore the need for reform in Northern Ireland.

“The review will also take account of recent developments in sentencing policy in other jurisdictions, including England and Wales, and identify potential options for equivalent reform in Northern Ireland.”