Compo madness - Our tacit acceptance of dishonesty

IT IS entirely possible that every single cent of the €145 million paid out by local authorities since 2000 in compensation was absolutely justified. It might be possible that everyone involved told the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

In 2007, Dublin City Council paid 774 claimants more than €6.8 million. That’s close enough to €25,000 every single working day. Since 2000 Cork City Council paid out €17,830,086. That’s real money and represents services denied elsewhere.

These figures represent only what was paid to claimants and do not cover legal costs or the cost of preparing a defence — if one was mounted — so the real cost of our compo culture is far greater.