Kerry courts told some people ‘unable to pay’ poor box fines

Several people have told the district courts in Kerry they cannot come up with the hundreds of euro pledged to the court poor box in lieu of conviction.

Bench warrants have been issued for others who failed complete their payments, and were not in court.

A Cork man who asked which charity was to benefit from his €300 was told to sit in the back of the courtroom — he remained there for up to three hours.

Pat Ring, of Peake, Coachford, had been given the benefit of the poor box after a summons by a garda for a breach of the peace in Killarney on November 19, 2014. Mr Ring’s solicitor Padraig O’Connell said his client needed an extension as he had only €300, half what he owed, and would pay the other half in the new year.

Judge James O’Connor asked Mr Ring what he did. He said he was a publican at the Dew Drop Inn.

“Are you going to come up with the rest of it?... Hand in the €300, so,” Judge O’Connor said.

When Mr Ring stepped up to the court clerk to count out his €300 in cash, he asked, “What charity is the money going to?” To which Judge O’Connor replied “You are some operator, fair dues to you! Sit down there,” the judge said, indicating the back of the court room.

Some hours later, Mr Ring was called forward and asked by the judge what his query was. Mr Ring said he had no problem now.

Other people too had difficulty in Killarney District Court. A student attending a computer course in Mallow, Co Cork, was to pay €750 for a breach of the peace in a restaurant at Main St, Rathmore, but said he could not come up with the money.

Judge O’Connor agreed to adjourn the matter.

Another man on disability, who said he spent the money he owed on funeral wreaths for his brother’s funeral, will now have to pay €750, instead of €500.

In Tralee court yesterday,a number of bench warrants were issued because of incomplete payments

, some for a year. One woman left in tears saying she feared she might not be able to come up with the €500 she still owed.

A Lithuanian student still owed €1,000 for being given a break three years ago for driving without insurance — he notched up four such offences since. He offered to pay in instalments, but this was rejected and the matter adjourned for full payment to 2016.