8,000 jailed for failing to pay their debts in last five years

MORE than 8,000 people have been sent to prison over the past five years for failing to pay debts or fines, new figures from the Department of Justice show.

Fine Gael’s Jim O’Keeffe said it was time to change the system as it is costing the taxpayer millions of euros.

Mr O’Keeffe said the poor are continuing to be sent to prison for inability to pay their debts and fines while hardened criminals are given early release because of shortage of spaces.