Judge blasts ‘epic waste of courts’ time’ over speeding fines

A district court judge has criticised the system of sending fines to motorists as “a national scandal”, that needs to be addressed to prevent wasting the courts’ time.

Judge James McNulty made the comments at Macroom District Court yesterday as he struck out cases against motorists who had not paid speeding tickets that were issued to them by post. Some of the accused testified they did not pay the fines because they did not receive the fixed-charge penalty notice in the post.

Judge McNulty said in the absence of any evidence that the motorists received the fines, it would be unjust to convict them. “This is an epic waste of the courts’ time and of garda time and resources,” Judge McNulty said during one such case.