RTÉ’s legal pursuits - People with status avoid rigour of law

WHAT’S the difference between a person who fails to pay a fine for not having a TV licence and someone who falls more than €1.5 million short of a legally binding payment to a State-owned corporation?

The answer is that an average citizen can end up in jail while a politician can get away with not stumping up a whopping €1,575,000.

The facts are clear cut. Since 2003, some 167 people have been imprisoned for failing to pay fines incurred for not having a television licence, which costs €158. This includes 18 people jailed so far this year for the offence.