Judge calls for longer pregabalin supply jail terms
The judge called the maximum sentence open to him 'ludicrous'
- Published
A district judge in Londonderry has criticised sentences he can impose in cases involving the supply of the drug pregabalin as 鈥渢otally inadequate鈥.
Barney McElholm made the comments as he jailed a woman involved in supplying the drug in August 2023 for two months.
The court was told a young man had later died after taking the drug and police inquiries had led them to the defendant, who cannot be named because of a court order.
The judge said the maximum sentence of three months for having the drug with intent to supply was 鈥渓udicrous鈥.
Sentencing at Bishop Street courthouse in Derry on Friday, Judge McElholm said: 鈥淥ne can't escape the fact a young man lost his life as a result of this defendant's activities.鈥
The judge said it had been 鈥渁 very difficult case鈥 and that pregabalin was one of the most dangerous drugs in circulation.
The woman, who has been granted anonymity, admitted that she supplied pregabalin, a drug used to treat a range of conditions including epilepsy and anxiety, to other people.
Mr McElholm told the court in Derry pregabalin should be seen as a class A drug, adding that Just Stop Oil protesters had been jailed for four years.
The court was told police carried out a search of the woman鈥檚 property and six sheets of pregabalin were found.
She claimed that she had people drinking in her flat and that they knew where she kept the drug, the court was told.
A defence solicitor said it would be inappropriate 鈥渘ot to reflect on the tragic death in the case鈥.
He said the death of the man was a 鈥減ractical example of the evil of drugs鈥.
The judge said the courts had to send out a message but that his sentencing powers were 鈥渢otally inadequate鈥.
What is pregabalin?
Pregabalin is used to treat conditions including epilepsy, nerve pain and anxiety on the .
It comes as tablets, capsules or in liquid form, and may be called Alzain, Axalid or Lyrica, depending on the brand.
Prescription rates are showing signs of levelling off, across the UK, but doctors say it can be a very useful treatment for patients when taken correctly, and should remain available.