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.