Local charities lose out in €2m court poor box payouts

Overseas charities were the biggest recipients of the €2.18m paid by offenders to the court poor box, according to figures compiled by the Courts Service.

A total of 800 charities benefited from the fund last year, with overseas charities the biggest winners, mainly thanks to the direction by the Kerry Judge James O’Connor. Offenders in Kerry contributed €883,527 — almost half the total contributed by 40 courts offices around the country.

The payments are overwhelmingly at district court level and are mainly contributed in lieu of conviction for first-time and for minor offences.

International charities received almost €700,000 of the €883,527 contributed to the poor box in Kerry.

Sightsavers International received €120,000; The Christian Blind Mission got €120,000, Ethiopia Aid €90,000; Bothar €35,000; Action Aid Ireland received €38,000; Vita €32,000; Gorta €31,500; Plan €20,000; Trocaire €20,000 and Unicef Ireland a further €20,000; Breadline Africa received €10,000; Self-Help Africa €3,000; Oxfam Ireland €40,559; and Concern €11,000.

The Irish Red Cross received €33,800. In contrast, The Alzheimer Society in Tralee got €250. The Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, which has previously called for funds from the poor box, got €200. The St Vincent de Paul in Dingle got €250 while its branch in Castleisland got €2,000. Kerry Respite Care got €200 and Men Overcoming Violent Emotion received €500.

Federation for Victim Assistance, which has also previously called for funding from the Kerry Court Poor box, received €200.

A number of individuals also received money, including one woman understood to be involved with an African Charity who received €50,000, while a body called Haki Water got €2,500.

Currently judges decide on the charities to benefit. In 2005 the Law Reform Commission recommended the operation of the poor box be put on a statutory footing. Plans to overhaul the system were announced in 2014. However they have not been implemented.