A heroin addict fled to England in December to get away from the drugs scene in Galway city and to avoid going to Castlerea Prison because he knew there was no drugs treatment programme there for prisoners.

However, in a bid to wean himself off the drug without going on a methadone programme, James Lynch (25), of Two Mile Ditch, Castlegar, Galway, developed serious heart problems and had to be hospitalised while in England in recent weeks.

His family became very concerned for his life and he agreed to come home last weekend. He was then picked up by gardaí in Galway who were waiting to arrest him on foot of three bench warrants issued by Galway District Court last year when he failed to appear before the court to answer three separate sets of charges.

Lynch, who has been held on remand at Castlerea Prison, where there is no drugs detoxification support for prisoners, looked very pale, thin and sickly when he appeared before Galway District Court last week. He told Judge Mary Fahy he fled to England to try and detox on his own away from the local drugs scene and also because he did not want to go to prison where he knew he would receive no help.

Inspector Mick Coppinger said Lynch, who has 30 previous convictions, was arrested on 11 August last year after admitting to driving a car, which had been stolen by other youths in Ballybane, Galway. Then on 2 October last he was caught driving a motorbike without insurance in Ballybane.

Lynch pleaded guilty to damaging flower pots outside Kelehan's pub, in Bushypark, Galway, on 26 March last year and he also admitted to a drink driving charge detected on 2 December 2006. That arrest followed a high-speed chase out the Moycullen road. Lynch lost control of the car he was driving and crashed at Bushypark. He pleaded guilty to a dangerous driving charge related to that incident.

Defence solicitor, Sean Acton, said his client had a serious addiction to heroin and he went to England to get away from the drugs scene in Galway. He said Lynch came from a very respectable family and his mother is convinced he is going to die.

He said Lynch had been hospitalised in England after he tried to get off heroin without undergoing a methadone treatment programme designed to wean him off the drug. He said his client had an addictive personality and had taken every type of drug imaginable, since he was nine years of age.

"There is no support system for drug users in this part of the country and when they come out of prison they just go back into the system, start using again and start offending. There is no methadone programme for him in Castlerea Prison and he wants to get 'clean' once and for all. It is almost a relief to him, knowing that he will be going to prison today but he will be looking for a transfer to another prison that has a treatment programme," Mr Acton said.

Imposing sentences totalling nine months and a four-year driving ban, Judge Fahy said it was a very sad case. She recommended Lynch obtain medical assistance to include a transfer from Castlerea Prison to a prison with a drug treatment programme. "Thanks a million judge," Lynch said.

Comments (0) »

Show/Hide comment form

Name

Email

Title

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment