“You are a very good person, you know that?”: Kildare judge commends defendant's supportive sister

A Naas District Court judge praised the sister of a woman accused of committing domestic violence during an in-camera (in private) court session on Thursday, October 3 last.

It was heard that the woman and her mother have a barring order against the woman, who did not appear in court on the date in question.

The court was also told that the woman has addiction and suspected psychiatric issues.

The defendant’s sister told Judge Desmond Zaidan: "When she comes home, she is not sober from her indulgences.

"We love her a great deal; we are trying to get her a bed for treatment.

"[Speaking] as her family, we are not medically trained to help her; at the moment, it’s Winter, and she is on the streets. We tried to get her a bed in the hospital, but there’s no space for beds… what I want to clarify is that we [the family] have no training in psychiatric nursing, you know?"

The sister added: "She needs a bed at a treatment centre, to get her on the road to recovery... We are out of our depth here."

'SHE HAS GOTTEN WORSE'

The mother also said: "She has gotten worse."

Judge Zaidan then criticised the mental health treatment system in Ireland, adding: "There are doctors that should be helping her… where are they?"

He also said: "Do the law-makers know how many [the accused’s name]s they are making if they decide to legalise these drugs? Where are the treatment centres?"

Turning to the woman’s sister, he told her: "That was well-spoken."

"I just don’t want her to be another statistic, on the side of the road," the sister replied.

"You are a very good person, you know that?" the judge told her.

The woman in turn praised Judge Zaidan for his 'kindness.'

Judge Zaidan issued a bench warrant for the defendant, and noted to gardaí that he would do so 'with discretion.'

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/.