O’Donoghue cut 42 court fines after pleas

POLITICIANS, charities and members of the public successfully petitioned Justice Minister John O’Donoghue to reduce or clear court fines during his five years in charge.

The minister’s power of clemency was used 42 times since 1998, according to documents released under the Freedom of Information Act.

In 1999, a Galway defendant was fined £500 after he was caught with a glass of poitín.