Repeat offender is told to undertake treatment programme for drug addiction
The defendant appeared before Castlebar District Court.
A father-of-four who was found in possession of cannabis valued at €1,800 has been told by a judge that he needs to address his addiction by undertaking a treatment programme.
Darren Mulcahy, aged 55, of 51 An Sruthan, Castlebar, pleaded guilty at Castlebar District Court to the possession of drugs for sale or supply at his home.
The court was told the defendant had a number of previous convictions for possessing drugs, including for sale or supply. Last July, he appealed a District Court conviction for the possession of cannabis to the Circuit Criminal Court where he was given a jail sentence of nine months, suspended for two years.
Mulcahy has a long history of cannabis use and has made attempts to address his issues, having stayed away from cannabis for periods in 2021 and 2022. He had been in touch with his GP and a counsellor in relation to his use of drugs which was related to "on and off" mental health issues.
However, Judge Sandra Murphy said looking at correspondence from the defendant’s GP and a probation report, it had been some months since he engaged with his doctor and counsellor. He had also indicated he was going to engage with a treatment programme but only went as far as receiving the referral forms.
“To me it seems no progress has been made since 2025 and my concern is that this man is not willing to take that final step in dealing with his addiction issues,” she said.
She adjourned the case for a final decision to April 15 next and told the defendant to have updated reports from his GP and his counsellor and to engage in a treatment programme.
- Published as part of the Courts Reporting Scheme.
