A JUDGE has said drug addicted offenders who refuse treatment should be forcibly detoxified. Judge Gerard Haughton was speaking in the case of a Dublin woman who has refused treatment for her heroin addiction 26 times.
Adrienne Cullen (28), of Dingle Road, Cabra, appeared in the Dublin District Court yesterday facing 18 charges consisting mainly of shoplifting and assaults on security staff between January 1995, and last month.
Judge Haughton said the woman was not responsible for her situation as she had been on heroin since aged 12. She had two young children and required treatment. "If there was a secure hospital where we could order detention until she is detoxified and cured it would go a long way to what is required. She has sabotaged attempts to help her and is entrenched in her addiction."
The judge said the case was a tragedy because probation officers described Cullen as very intelligent and said the benefits of treatment would be enormous. He imposed an 18 month sentence, saying the courts must protect the public.
Garda Matt McMahon said Cullen committed criminal damage and assault at Crazy Pound, O'Connell Street, on, February 17th.