Large amount donated from Court Poor Box to charities in Offaly and Laois in past year

A TOTAL of €77,000 was donated by the Laois / Offaly Court Poor Box to a number of different charities in the two counties during the last year.

Judge Andrew Cody told the recent court sitting of Tullamore District Court that the Court Poor Box is a very positive thing which contributes significantly to communities each year.

In a statement issued to the press Judge Cody pointed out that most regular attendees at the District Court will be familiar with the basic concept of the Court Poor Box system. He explained that it's a system whereby a person who has been charged with a minor criminal offence, usually a first-time offender, may be given one chance to avoid a criminal record by making a contribution to charity through the poor box.

“The Poor Box,” he continued, “is used most often in the District Court. Typical cases where it's used include first time possession of a small amount of drugs particularly cannabis, being drunk or disorderly in a public place, petty larceny, or minor assaults. The payments to the Box are generally less than €500 in each case.”

The system has been in existence for several centuries, possibly as far back as 1275 and was developed by judges as a common law power; it's not regulated by any legislation.

“The benefits,” remarked Judge Cody, “of giving a first-time offender a chance to avoid a conviction while at the same time benefiting certain charities are obvious. Amongst the advantages of the system are that it enables a court to determine an appropriate outcome having regard to all the circumstances of a case (thus avoiding or reducing the need to record a conviction or term of imprisonment). For example, a young person who is found to be in possession of a small amount of cannabis and who is prosecuted may suffer disproportionately if he or she is convicted. Another important benefit of the system is that the charities who receive court poor box funds are sometimes linked to the type of crime which has been committed; for example, a charge of cruelty to animals might result in a payment to the ISPCA via the court poor box.

"Indeed, the Law Reform Commission acknowledges in its Consultation Paper that one of the most important positive features of the Poor Box is that it reflects principles of restorative justice, in which the offender and the community can be reconciled.”
Throughout the year, as a result of a direction by the court, there have been charitable donations made directly to the Victims of Crime, Offaly Hospice Foundation Ltd, Clara St Vincent de Paul, Tullamore Tidy Towns, Fusion Project, Community Mental Health Centre, Cystic Fibrosis, Port Project, Irish Red Cross Ukrainian Appeal, Laois Hospice, Laura Lynn Foundation, LSPCA, Merchants Quay Project, My Lovely Horse Rescue, Pieta House, Portlaoise Lions Club, The Cara Curley Foundation, Laois Hospice, St Vincent de Paul Portlaoise and the Fusion Project. These payments total approximately €30,000."

In addition, the Poor Box funds where necessary professional reports of psychologists and other professionals where children are affected by proceedings involving Domestic Violence, custody and access disputes and such reports are necessary in order to determine and convey the child's views (known as a “voice of the child report”) and also to advise the court on issues affecting the welfare of the child. Such reports are of enormous benefit to the court, the families and particularly the children in helping and advising the family and the court. Such reports are paid for by the Court Poor Box only where it is essential, and the means of the family do not permit the commissioning and payment of such reports. Throughout 2022 the Court Poor Box has paid approximately €20,000 towards the cost of such reports.

The Judge also pointed out that Electric Picnic results in up to 300 young people per annum appearing before Portlaoise District Court and first-time offenders found in possession of a small amount of illegal drugs are given an opportunity to make a charitable donation of approximately €400 to the Court Poor Box in order to avoid a criminal conviction.

“Over the last two years there have been no such prosecutions, but it is anticipated that several Electric Picnic goers will be brought before the District Court in the Spring.”

He said the balance available for distribution at the end of 2022 was just over €27,000.

The following committee was set up to advise on the distribution of the Court Poor Box funds: Catherine Magnier Portlaoise Court Office Manager; Breda Costelloe Tullamore Court Office Manager; Inspector Kieran Keyes An Garda Síochána Tullamore; Inspector Jane Ryan An Garda Síochána Portlaoise; Emily Mahon Solicitor Tullamore; Gerry Meagher Solicitor Portlaoise; Judge Andrew Cody.

Following a meeting in the last fortnight it was agreed unanimously that the balance be distributed as follows:

€2,000 each to Portlaoise Lions Club and Tullamore Lions Club.
€1,000 each to St Vincent De Paul Portlaoise, St Vincent de Paul Clara, St Vincent de Paul Tullamore, St Vincent de Paul Castletown, St Vincent de Paul Birr, St Vincent de Paul Abbeyleix, Offaly Hospice, Laois Hospice, Acorn Project, Fusion Project, Block Project, Laois Domestic Violence Support and Offaly Domestic Violence Support.
€500 each to PATH, Tullamore Rape Crisis Centre, Accessible Counselling, Tullamore Tidy Towns, Portlaoise Tidy Towns, Little Blue Heroes, Cara Projects, Cara Curley Foundation.