‘Even the son of a judge was before me on drugs charges’
Judge Andrew Cody
JUDGE Andrew Cody addressed a group of third-level students who attended to observe proceedings at last week’s sitting of Portlaoise District Court.
The students were taking part in level 5 applied studies in social care at Moate College, with the intention of working with those affected by drug use and abuse.
The students had initially planned to visit and tour the Midlands Prison, but at the last minute had to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances.
Judge Cody praised the prison staff and said the care they provide to prisoners would open people’s eyes.
He informed the students that cannabis can stay in a person’s system for up to three weeks, while cocaine lasts up to ten hours.
He said: “If you took alcohol and drugs out of the system, there would be about 80% less work for courts. Drugs are so prevalent in every town and village in the country. They say that every GAA club has a cocaine dealer.” He informed the students that once a year there is a special sitting of Portlaoise District Court to deal with those caught in possession of drugs at the Electric Picnic music festival in Stradbally.
He said that at last year’s special sitting: “The son of a judge was here. It’s in every housing estate and every part of society.” He said that probably the most serious of cases that the district court deals with are those involving childcare applications, which, he said, can be very difficult for judges to deal with. He said that in many of these cases drugs feature among parents.
He said there are two judges that normally sit in Portlaoise, himself along with his colleague Judge Susan Fay, who is the youngest judge in the country at present.
He told the students of a case he dealt with where a care order was sought to take children into care at an emergency sitting of the court at 11pm one night after “both parents went on a complete cocaine bender and hadn’t changed the nappies on their child for two days. In that time, the child was toddling around in his own poo.” He said that there are not enough services for very young people who require them at childhood stage, particularly children with mental health issues.
He said that some children begin taking cannabis at the age of ten and at 15 years of age, if they require mental health intervention, they are waiting up to three years for those services.
“The supports,” said Judge Cody, “at an early stage are not there. Mental health and addiction are never a crime. Drug dealers are the biggest problem. Not the addicts.” Judge Cody fielded several questions from the students and was happy to share his time and experience with them, which they all thanked him for.
