A judge used a psychiatric report on a man in custody to criticise a recent political move to liberalise the State’s position on cannabis.
“Some public representatives tell us that cannabis doesn’t harm you, but it gives you psychosis,” said Judge Seamus Hughes in the District Court this week (November 13 ), to James Flynn (26 ), of no fixed abode, but formerly of Assumption Road, Athlone.
Flynn had been charged with the breach of a banning order on October 21, but was remanded in custody last week on account of his behaviour in Longford District Court.
“How are you feeling?” asked the judge.
“Grand. I’m back to my own weight,” said Flynn.
“So tell me. Why were you acting strange before me in Longford?” asked the judge to no answer.
“You turned your back, you were doing funny circles in court. Were you using cannabis?”
“Yeah,” admitted Flynn.
Earlier his solicitor, Ms Bríd Mimnagh, handed in a psychiatric report ordered by Judge Hughes last week in Longford.
It was from this that the judge noticed Flynn suffered from psychosis while under the influence, and this prompted his criticism of the stance of a politician who recently attempted to decriminalise cannabis.
“Sorry, Ms Mimnagh, I say this for the benefit of others, not just your client’s,” said the judge.
Ms Mimnagh told the judge Flynn was accompanied in court by a “loving family”, was prepared to give an undertaking to continue drugs counselling, and that he “wasn’t happy in the psychiatric ward”.
“You have damaged your mental capacities ... and once you damage your brain, you can’t get it back. Promise me you’re going to stop?” asked the judge.
“I promise,” said Flynn.
“Mr Connolly [probation officer] is your new boss until I see you again,” said the judge.
However, when he heard Flynn’s parents were willing to change the barring order to a safety order in order to allow him back home, Judge Hughes amended this to: “your mother and father are the boss”.
He remanded Flynn on continuing bail for a week on condition he complies with all directions of the Welfare and Probation Service, and gave gardaí leave to re-enter. This is a legal expression which means that this matter is not yet dealt with, and that the gardaí can use it to arrest him for any future misbehaviour and return him to custody.
