Judge's drugs diversion programme helping cocaine users avoid criminal conviction

'A fierce problem with cocaine' in Cork prompted one judge to devise a scheme to help users of the drug, mostly young men, to avoid a conviction. Now retired from the bench, Judge Olann Kelleher tells Security Correspondent Cormac O’Keeffe about the success of the diversion programme and his hope that other judges will embrace it

Judge Olann Kelleher: 'This programme allowed the participants to reflect on their drug use, What we’re trying to do is get in early and intervene and prevent people from developing any kind of significant drug problem.' Picture: Dan Linehan

It had got to the stage that Judge Olann Kelleher was racking his brain trying to figure out what to do with the latest drug cases coming before his court.

Some six years ago, streams of young men were being charged with possession of cocaine for their own personal use.