Kildare court defendant says he turned to drugs because of isolation during Covid-19 lockdown

A young male defendant who appeared before Naas District Court turned to using drugs because he was isolated during the Covid-19 lockdown.

The man’s defending solicitor, Tim Kennelly, made the comments while speaking to Judge Desmond Zaidan on Thursday, June 13 last.

Gardaí said that the man was caught with €290 worth of cannabis, €500 worth of MDMA (also known as 'ecstasy') and €20 of psilocybin (also known as 'magic mushrooms') at a location in County Kildare back in 2020.

Mr Kennelly applied for a strike-out in the case, citing the four-year delay.

Commenting on the drugs involved, Judge Zaidan said: "He (the defendant) was dicing with death."

He added: "Who was supplying this stuff while (the) Covid (lockdown) was going on? That’s not a good reflection on the gardaí; where were the checkpoints around the place?"

The defendant in the case was represented by solicitor Tim Kennelly. File photograph.

Mr Kennelly replied that his client had been struggling with isolation brought on by staying at home during the Covid-19 lockdown.

"He has no previous convictions, and was using all of these drugs solely for personal use," Mr Kennelly said: "He is sober now, and has not come to garda attention since."

Speaking directly to the man, the judge asked him: "Do you understand what’s going on?"

"I do, absolutely, yes," the man replied.

The judge then proceeded to warn the man that he was funding drug gangs in Ireland by purchasing these drugs.

He also warned him of the dangers of falling into drug addiction.

Judge Zaidan added that he was glad to hear that the man is now sober, and adjourned the matter to a date in November for sentencing.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact Samaritans Ireland (116123 or jo@samaritans.org) or you can visit pieta.ie (24/7 Free Crisis Helpline: 1800 247 247 or Text HELP to 51444).

For further information related to seeking treatment for drug and alcohol abuse, please contact the HSE's confidential drugs and alcohol freephone helpline on 1800 459 459, from Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 5.30pm, or email helpline@hse.ie.

You can also visit: https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/5/addiction/drugshivhelpline/.