Over €1 million in unpaid District Court fines in Dundalk
Amount outstanding in Dundalk District Court office in unpaid fines since 2020
€1,070,535.44 is outstanding in Dundalk District Court office in unpaid fines since 2020, according to figures released by the Irish Courts Service under the Freedom of Information act to Ireland South MEP, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú.
The figures released show that almost €45 million in unpaid District Court fines are outstanding across Ireland’s District Court system since 2020.
Commenting on the figures, Ní Mhurchú said: “What does this say to the victims who have been impacted by crimes such as drink driving, assault, theft, and shop lifting. We are imposing fines that a percentage of criminals are choosing to ignore and it seems there is little we are doing about it. €45 million would fund a lot of domestic violence refuges, road safety campaigns and extra Garda on our streets.
"It is time for a get tough approach to those criminals who feel they are above the law. Our road deaths have been rising in Ireland for consecutive years. How can we expect any improvement in that scenario when those fined for traffic offences may choose not to pay the fine”
The Fianna Fáil MEP has called for the issue of unpaid district court fines to be included in the upcoming review of the criminal justice system which was promised in the 2025 Programme for Government.