€55k on wigs and gowns as judges’ bill tops €1.73m

The judiciary’s spend on wigs, gowns and incidental expenses last year increased by 30%, as judges’ overall expense bill topped €1.73m.

According to figures from the Courts Service, judges spent €55,500 on judicial attire and other incidentals, compared to €42,554 in 2013.

The €12,946 increase was driven last year by the spate of newly appointed judges purchasing their garb. This expenditure accounted for €21,331 of the overall spend.

The €1.73m is marginally down on the €1.74m claimed in 2013 and represents a 30% drop on the €2.492m claimed in expenses in 2008.

The Courts Service now releases the judges, names and their expenses following a ruling by the Information Commissioner last year.

Prior to the ruling, the Courts Service had refused to release the names on security grounds. It has now placed the information on its courts.ie website.

The figures show the top claimant last year was Judge Kevin Kilraine, who presides over district courts in Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim. He received €65,392, made up of €32,104 in travel and €33,288 in subsistence.

Four of the five top claimants are judges of the district court, who are required to travel longer distances.

The other three are Judge Gerard Furlong, who received €45,546, made up of €23,744 in travel and €21,801 in subsistence; Judge John J O’Neill, who got €41,696, made up of €10,448 in travel, €15,699 in subsistence and €1,312 in incidental expenses; and Judge Seamus Hughes, who received €40,499, made up of €9,111 in travel, €31,357 in subsistence and €188 on incidentals.

Judge O’Neill and Judge Furlong are not assigned to a particular area.

Judge Hughes sits in district area nine, covering the Co Westmeath area. The only one not a district court judge in the top five is circuit court judge Donagh McDonagh, who claimed €32,256, made up of €21,462 in subsistence; €10,397 in travel, and €396 in incidental expenses.

The only other circuit court judge to claim over €30,000 in expenses was Judge Desmond Hogan, who claimed €30,061 last year.

The High Court judge to receive the highest expenses was Mr Justice John Hedigan, who got €6,130. Chief Justice Ms Susan Denham claimed just €265 last year.