public function &getUser($channelname, $username)
    {
        if (!$this->_channelsyncing) {
            $this->log(SMARTIRC_DEBUG_NOTICE, 'WARNING: getUser() is called and'
                .' the required Channel Syncing is not activated!',
                __FILE__, __LINE__
            );
            return;
        }

        if ($this->isJoined($channelname, $username)) {
            return $this->getChannel($channelname)->users[strtolower($username)];
        }
    }