Judge Barney McElholm made the comments after a police officer explained that a 37-year-old woman from Londonderry had been arrested after having been rescued from the River Foyle three times this month.

Leona Devlin, who was found with Xanax tablets, had also been removed twice from the Craigavon bridge, Londonderry Magistrates Court was told. The officer explained that the police, two hospitals and the courts had all tried to help the woman.

The officer said there was a high chance she would die if she kept overdosing and asked that Ms Devlin be remanded.

Judge McElholm said: “In England and Wales and possibly in Scotland if diagnosed with this sort of personality disorder she could be detained and receive treatment. It is disgraceful the way things are in this jurisdiction.

“In order to protect her from herself I have no option but to remand her in custody but in any proper area I should have the option to make an order to put her somewhere where she can receive treatment.”

He added: “While people in other parts of the UK have the benefit of that option, here we do not. They argue about customs and tariffs but more important things such as this should be argued about.

“If there was the proper legislation in this country the court could detain her and make her stay in a mental health institution or in an addiction unit for as long as it takes.

“This court or the Crown Court or the High Court should have the power to detain her in circumstances like this for her own good. I cannot do that.”