‘Court poor box should benefit local victims’

Money collected in court poor boxes should benefit local victims of crime, the director of the Kerry Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre has said, as it emerged that the service only got €200 from Kerry offenders last year.

Director Vera O’Leary warned the centre’s services may have to be cut and waiting lists will increase as it struggles to bring in enough money to cover its operating costs.

Ms O’Leary was speaking out after figures revealed that local charities received less than €50,000, while the bulk of money from the court poor box in Kerry — €480,000 — went to overseas aid organisations.