by Andrew Carey
andrew@limerickpost.ie
A LIMERICK prisoner has told a judge that he is at “breaking point” while in custody after he tried to take his own life on three occasions at Limerick Prison.
The father of two in his 30s, who remains in custody serving a lengthy sentence while on remand during an investigation into a burglaries in Limerick last year.
Asking to address the court after the State sought to adjourn his case for almost three months, the man told Judge Mary Larkin at Limerick District Court via a video link from the Mulgrave Street prison, that he was “innocent of what they’re saying your honour”.
“I’ve been in custody and I’m serving sentences for what I’ve done but they’re saying that I did these things and I was locked up.
“I served seven months of a two and a half year sentence, but then I had to start that sentence again after they came back for another bite.
He explained that he was on remand for a period of time and claimed that his time in custody was not taken into account when he was sentenced for previous convictions.
“I can’t cope, I’ve tried to slit my wrists three times and put a rope around my neck twice as I just can’t handle it”.
In an emotional plea before Limerick District Court to expedite a hearing date for the charges he denies, the accused prisoner said that “My family have moved to Cork and I’ve two lovely little girls at home and I just can’t handle all of this any more for them. I’m innocent and I just want to get on with what I’ve to do here [in prison] but they won’t let me.”
Apologising for his address to the court, the prisoner said that “the pressure of this is too much”.
Judge Larkin noted that the accused was entitled to speak despite having legal representation from the legal aid board and said that she would adjourn the matter for two weeks.
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