Teen suffers drug psychosis

JUDGE John Coughlan expressed serious concern about the escalating drug problem in Drogheda after a 15-year-old appeared before him suffering from what is believed to be drug-induced psychosis.

The teenager is charged in connection with a number of thefts around town and the court heard he had broken his bail conditions by failing to sign on at Drogheda Garda Station at the appropriate times.

However, the teen’s solicitor, Dorothy Walsh said the defendant had missed the appointments because he was being treated in Temple Street Children’s Hospital.

She said he suffers from a form of psychosis and has been attending Temple Street in relation to this as he is being assessed to see if it is drug-induced or if it’s a separate form of schizophrenia.

The teenager is charged with theft at The Cottage Pharmacy, Scarlet Street on December 7th, 2016 and at Tuites Butchers, The Bull Ring on December 5th, 2016. Speaking as the youth appeared before him in Drogheda District Court last Tuesday, Judge Coughlan said: ‘My feeling is to put him away in Oberstown and revoke the bail. This is a very serious drug problem. The drug problem in Drogheda is absolutely disgraceful and he is a child under 18.’

However, Ms Walsh went on to say that the teen is drug free at present.

When asked how she could be sure of that she said: ‘His Mum tells me he is on very strict lockdown at home and he is taking his anti-psychosis medication.’ After putting the matter back to second calling to consider it, Judge Coughlan adjourned the case to October 24th for an updated Probation Report. However, he warned the defendant that he must comply with the bail conditions. ‘If he doesn’t I’ll be putting him into Oberstown,’ he said.