Judge issues 27 bench warrants in one sitting

A district court judge in west Waterford issued 27 bench warrants in one sitting, on foot of non- payment of court fines across the past two years.

Sitting at Dungarvan District Court, Judge Terence Finn signed the orders after only 17 of 44 people listed for enforcement on the day had either paid their fines or were represented in court.

The non-payments follow the introduction of the 2014 Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act, which effectively came into force in 2016.