Mullingar drug case number five times greater than Athlone"s

Figures published this week by the Courts Service reveal that there were almost five times as many drugs cases before the district court in Mullingar last year than in Athlone.In Mullingar, some 180 drugs cases were heard, while the Athlone figure was just 38.Just under one third of those convicted of drugs offences in Mullingar were given either a Community Service penalty, or the benefit of the Probation Act or put on probation.But if Mullingar is turning out to have more than a drugs problem than Athlone, at least there is the comfort of knowing that the incidence of public order breaches and assaults is lower in Mullingar than in Athlone, with 361 such cases having come before the district court in Mullingar in 2007, and 538 such in Athlone.Rates of larceny were also higher in Athlone, at 308 cases last year, than in Mullingar, where there were just 155.The Courts Service also reports that there were 1,923 road traffic cases dealt with in Mullingar, and 1,858 dealt with in Athlone.Payments to the court poorbox in Mullingar amounted to 23,244, and in Athlone, to €20,450.Family lawThe figures also show that 52 females and 30 males applied to the circuit courts in Westmeath for divorces last year, and divorces were granted to 31 males and 41 females (some applications were from the year before).In addition, 11 males and 26 females applied for a Judicial Separation, and in total, 8 of these were granted.Waiting times in Mullingar Circuit Court for family law cases are just to the next sittings of the court, and similarly for criminal case appeals.There is, however, a 6-9 month waiting list for criminal cases and civil cases and civil appeals.For the district court in Mullingar, the waiting time for criminal cases is 1.5 months, while for civil and family law cases, the wait is 'up to' two months.In Athlone, the waiting list at district court level is, across the board, one month.