The number of people being sent to prison plummeted by almost 40% in 2017 — attributed to a massive drop in fine defaulters being jailed.

Thousands of notices to appear in court for the non-payment of fines will be issued soon as part of new legislation to crackdown on defaulters.

Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan said she was not endorsing “the use of physical force” when she wrote to the Courts Service asking that the period of time a dissident republican was spending on remand be cut.

With motor insurance prices now 16% higher than they were 12 months ago, Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe says he hopes measures to reduce road deaths and injuries will lead to a drop in the premiums being faced by motorists.

Temperatures have been so cold in the Supreme Court due to a faulty heating system that the chief justice brought a thermometer to court so she could send the readings to the minister in charge.

Gardaí and the Courts Service are planning a crackdown on people who shirk jury duty, warning prosecutions will follow for those who fail to show up when summoned.

Solicitor Brian O’Donnell says he will bring in expert witnesses on banking regulation as part of the latest challenge by him and his wife Mary Patricia to their bankruptcy, the High Court heard yesterday.

A bid by the adult children of solicitor Brian O’Donnell to prevent a bank-appointed receiver taking over the family home was rejected by the High Court yesterday.

A pensioner who lost a case about his golf handicap faces having to pay a legal bill which could run to €500,000.

The wife and children of businessman Philip Lynch are entitled to a further hearing to determine whether AIB is entitled to €26m judgment orders against them over an unpaid development loan, the Supreme Court has ruled.

The Law Society has said access to justice will be hampered by the closure of courts around the country, and also questioned the amount of money that would be saved.

Sligo County Council is facing a bill of several million euro after the Supreme Court ordered it to pay most of the costs of the long and bitter legal row over public rights of way across the historic Lissadell estate in Co Sligo.

NOTHING to see here, folks, now move along please. So went the tone of the statement issued by the presidents of the High and Circuit Courts on Monday evening regarding the latest controversy to hit the judiciary.

The Government has spelled out its plans to cut the number of people going to prison for the non- payment of fines, including the “landmark innovation” of the attachment of earnings for unpaid fines.

Dublin Bus is advising customers that due to potential industrial action, services may not operate this Sunday.

Straight-talking Judge Judy Sheindlin paid a flying visit to the Four Courts yesterday.

“All rise please.”

Serious delays in Ireland’s appeal courts system may be damaging to Irish society and the economy, the country’s top judge has warned.

There has been a furious reaction from the Polish community to a Mayo judge’s comment, made in court, that the social welfare system is a “Polish charity”.

Record numbers of people look set to be jailed this year for failing to pay fines, figures show.

The number of children taken into the care of the Health Service Executive by court order more than doubled last year, according to the annual report of the Courts Service.

THE Catholic Archbishop of Dublin has urged solicitors and politicians to work towards achieving a more just, equal and caring society.

THE head of the Courts Service has apologised in person to the family of a man who died after being assaulted on the street by a criminal who was supposed to have been locked up.

One of the country’s top judges will open the doors to Ireland’s criminal justice system during the first tour of the capital’s iconic new courts complex, it emerged today.

Lawyers for a man accused of murdering a nine-year-old girl in the North 28 years ago launched a legal challenge today against the evidence in the case.

The Supreme Court ruled today that developer Liam Carroll’s Zoe property group is not entitled to proceed any further with its bid for court protection from creditors.

An outspoken judge found himself in the firing line after he was accidentally shot with an airgun during a private court case, it was revealed today.

A REPORT recommends a constitutional referendum to establish a full-time court of appeal to deal with all civil and criminal cases.

ALMOST 11,400 separate applications for protection were made by victims of domestic violence to the Courts last year.

IN a highly unusual decision, a man accused of murder has been awarded costs of €500,000 by the Supreme Court to pay for an unsuccessful legal bid to halt his trial.

FIGURES have revealed that one in four court cases requiring the use of an interpreter involve Polish speakers.

The Courts Service has strongly criticized the comments made last week by a district court judge in Tullamore.

People with court convictions of less than six months in jail may be about to get a fresh start at life.

THE Courts Service has called on the Government to consider appointing a private debt collection agency to tackle the growing problem of unpaid motoring fines.

THE Courts Service has called on the Government to consider appointing a private debt collection agency to tackle the growing problem of unpaid motoring fines.

The London market failed to find enough momentum to end the week on a high note today as the weak US dollar dampened spirits.

Troubled British furniture group Courts delivered a hammer blow to investors today by announcing it had been forced into talks over a life-saving financial overhaul.

NEW laws to tackle compo culture and exaggerated claims may be unfair to genuine victims, a senior legal expert has warned.

The FTSE 100 Index built on momentum sparked by the US presidential election results to close at its highest level in 28 months today.

Barclays led the FTSE 100 Index back towards the 4600 barrier today as investors warmed to news that it was seeking to expand in Africa.

THE chairperson of the Courts Service said there is an urgent need for more judges despite a significant drop in the number of murder and rape cases last year as well as a general reduction in waiting times for court hearings.

The London market held steady today despite news that inflation was at its highest level for more than a year.

THE COURTS are to invest up to €800m euro in the stock market and other equity-based schemes to ensure people awarded damages receive the maximum amount of money possible.

ANYONE involved in a court action will be able to use e-mail to file claims, submit legal documents and pay fines once a five-year plan to modernise the judicial system is completed.