50% surge in those jailed over TV licence fines

The number of people jailed last year for the non-payment of TV licence fines jumped by almost 50%, new figures show.

According to figures provided by the Irish Prison Service, the number of people jailed for non-payment of TV licence fines last year rose from 183 to 272 — a jump of 89, or 48.6%.

The number jailed for the non-payment of TV license fines has increased more than five-fold in the past five years.