Number jailed for failing to pay fines jumps by 50%

MORE than 3,300 people have been locked up for failing to pay fines up to the end of October this year – a jump of over 50% on the total figure for 2008.

Fine Gael justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan strongly criticised the sharp rise in the imprisonment of people for defaulting on fines. He said the law should be changed to allow the state to deduct money from salaries and social welfare income to pay the fines.

Figures supplied to him by Justice Minister Dermot Ahern, in a reply to a parliamentary question, show: