'I’d rather go to prison for 10 years,' Waterford man refuses medication for bail
Waterford Courthouse
A Tramore man has told a judge at Waterford District Court he would rather go to prison than take medication.
The defendant was re-applying for bail following the execution of a bench warrant, and the judge had made it a condition that he take any medication prescribed to him.
Patrick Flynn (34), of 15 Glen View, Tramore, Co. Waterford, was before Waterford District Court on three counts of threatening and abusive behaviour at Thurles Railway Station, Tipperary; Eustace Street, Dublin 2; and Abbey Street, Ennis, Co. Clare on dates between April 17 and 25, 2025.
He is also charged with handling stolen property/ trespass on Harsonge Street, Limerick, on March 25, 2025.
Acting for the defendant, solicitor Ken Cunningham told Judge King that his client struggled with his mental health and was homeless, “walking the streets”.
Judge John King was considering granting bail despite the man's bench warrant history.
If he were to do so, Judge King said the defendant would need to sign on at the garda station, attend all of his medical appointments and follow all of his doctor's recommendations, including to take any medication prescribed.
However, Mr Flynn told Judge King that he had been ill but felt better and thought he should be allowed to decide if he should take medication.
“I’d rather go to prison for 10 years than take another medication,” said Mr Flynn.
Judge King said that if that was the case, then he was not willing to grant bail.
“If a doctor prescribes it, you take it,” said Judge King.
Mr Cunningham asked for time to speak with his client, who he thought might have misunderstood, and the matter was left stand.
When the matter was called again, the defendant agreed to the bail terms.
But when the judge reiterated the terms that included following a doctor's recommendations, the man told him there was a difference between a must and a recommendation.
Judge King said to Mr Cunningham: “Does he want to play games with me, because he can think about it in custody?”
The defendant decided to agree to the terms and was granted bail.
All matters were put back to court sittings in their jurisdictions in August and September.
