Drug court scheme ‘has saved 10 people’s lives’

TEN addicts who successfully completed a drug court programme would be in prison or dead today, the chief executive of the courts service said yesterday.

The 10 are among 120 from Dublin’s north inner city who have been referred to the drug court. The intensive programme, still in its pilot stage, aims to wean users away from a life of drugs and crime.

Chief executive PJ Fitzpatrick described the programme as a success despite 20 being thrown off it for non- compliance.

He told the joint justice committee that one of the graduates had been in and out of jail for the last 30 years. He said those taking part in what is described as a “very, very intensive” supervised programme are chronic addicts and repeat criminals.

Fine Gael’s justice spokesman John Deasy asked whether cuts in community employment schemes - those involved in the programme are given jobs on the schemes - had affected the drug court initiative but was told many agencies were involved and given resources as a matter of priority.

The committee also heard how Circuit Court cases are being delayed by an average of 18 months after a judge was seconded to the Residential Institutions Redress Board. The longer the delay, the tougher it is for both the victims and witnesses, it is argued. Mr Fitzpatrick said they were attempting to fill the position to cut back on the delays in Tralee, the worst in the country ahead of Cork along with Kilkenny, Limerick and Waterford, all on 12 months.

The courts service chief executive also revealed work will hopefully begin next year on a new criminal court in Dublin so major trials can be held away from the frenetic and intimidating atmosphere of the Four Courts.