A former Leitrim District Court judge believes there need to be a significant increase in supports and facilities for people with alcohol or mental health difficulties.
Retired judge Kevin Kilraine is suggesting that the legal system is facing an increasing problem with granting bail to defendants who may have no address or home after appearing in court.
He admits that there were occasions where he had no choice but to refuse bail in order to ensure someone did not end up sleeping on the streets.
On a number of occasions have held special courts at nighttime where in the ordinary way that defendant will be entitled to bail but where I released him or her them on bail there was literally nowhere to go when they walk out the steps of the court, turn left or right, there was no where at all, or sleep under a bridge or whatever. And that is the problem that faces the court on an increasing basis.
