Quiet spoken lady on disability who volunteered at animal rescue charity & self medicated with Cannabis for pain sent to prison for 60 days over 2.5grams of Cannabis
Claire Freeman (58) from west Cork’s Drimoleague who self medicates with cannabis had her home invaded by gardaí enforcing the inhumane misuse of drugs act. To make matters worse the quiet spoken lady who volunteered at an animal rescue charity has been sent to prison for 60 days over 2.5grams of Cannabis.
Sgt Paul Kelly told the court how on the 16th of May 2020 Det. Garda Ryan was knocking on the door of Claire Freeman when he observed her trying to dispose of her Cannabis in the stove. On entering her home he recovered 2.5grams of Cannabis valued at €50.
The reality for patients who self medicate with Cannabis in Ireland & live in fear of the authorities
The court was told that Claire had 9 previous conviction with 6 of them relating to drugs (I would suspect all Cannabis but cannot confirm this). Of the 6 drug charges 1 of the related to a charge of sale and supply from back in 2013. On that occasion she received 200hours community service instead of 60days in prison. Her last conviction was in February 2017.
Claire solicitor told the court how she was on disability in receipt of €200 a week. That she suffers from a lot of pain and self medicates with Cannabis. He added that she had been taking the drug “for a long time” but was making efforts to wean herself off it.
He said his client had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, that she did voluntary charity work in animal rescue and was a quietly spoken woman not engaged in any other type of illegal activity.
Judge McNulty being a cruel and condescending bastard said “she is a long time at the weaning.” As if it's not bad enough to have your home invaded, your medicine taken away and then meeting this bully. Surely his job is to just pass sentences and not be passing these discriminatory comments. This lady suffers with pain and uses cannabis to treat it and this judge is violating her human rights and being a complete prick while doing it. (apologies for the fowl language but these cases and comments by the judges are getting under my skin)
Article 3 of UN declaration of Human Rights : Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
Mr Fleming asked the court to consider ordering a Probation Report but Judge McNulty said he had heard similar arguments made on Ms Freeman’s behalf on previous occasions.
“Here, in this court, she has run out of road,” he said. Again another example of a judge completely out of touch as to what is going on in front of him. Happy out to remain ignorant to the fact this lady was using cannabis to treat her pain and criminalise her. Meanwhile other patients in Ireland have a licence for the every same substance to treat the very same issues.
But does the judge not acknowledge the efforts being made outside of the court to provide a legal avenue for people like Mary to access this plant legally in order to treat her pain. Why is it the patients like Claire are running out of road but meanwhile the politicians with the power to help these patients get pensions and golden handshakes.
The judge sentenced her to 60 days imprisonment on both charges and set recognisance for appeal on her own bond of €500, no cash required, adding that by the time of appeal Ms Freeman may have made “strenuous efforts” to address her drug use.
He said Ms Freeman was engaged in “persistent offending”. The appeal was lodged and Ms Freeman was granted legal aid. I say Ms Freeman was engaged in her god given right to care for herself as she sees fit with a medical herb. Claire was harming nobody in what she was doing and having gardaí terrorize this lady in her home, while also stealing her medicine is just wrong on so many levels.
Its sickening a judge would even consider sending this lady to prison for treating her pain with cannabis. She is 58 years of age and her actions are a danger to nobody , what value are we as tax payers getting for this money spent criminalising a sick lady?
I hope others will support this volunteer worker who so kindly helped out at the animal rescue charity.
