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Court poor box pays out €1.67 million to charities

Charities across Ireland benefited from a sum of just over €1.67 million last year from the courts’ Poor Box.

Figures being published today (3 June) show payments from the court poor box have been made to hundreds of charities across every county.

Payments made range from small, one-off amounts, to sums of over €50,000.

Organisations dealing with addiction, poverty, homelessness, women’s safety, medical services, hospice care, and mental health have all benefited from the dispersal of the fund.

The fund exists as a means of helping largely first-time offenders avoid a conviction for more minor, non-violent crimes. 

Chapters of the St Vincent de Paul received over €86,000, Merchant’s Quay Project €52,385, Pieta House €51,000, and Our Lady’s Hospice €12,050.

The total in payments to charities from the poor box of €1,673,584 in 2024 is up from €1,052,853 in 2023 – an increase of 59%.

The Criminal Courts of Justice in Parkgate St, Dublin 7 accounted for over €250,000 of the payments made.

A spokesman for the Courts Service said it was “predominantly used by the District Courts who deal with criminal offences of a less serious nature. 

“The individual amounts can vary substantially depending on ability to pay, other penalties imposed, and the nature of the offences.”

“The option of paying into the court poor box usually arises where the offence is minor in nature and would not attract a custodial sentence.  Public-order offences can be the most common offences for which the poor-box option is given to defendants.”

These include breaches of the peace, intoxication, or disorderly conduct in a public place, threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in a public place, or failing to comply with a direction from An Garda Síochána. 

Minor drug offences

It is also used for first-time, minor drug possession offences, and offences against property.  

When combined with the Probation of Offenders Act, the poor box provides holds a person accountable in public court, where some financial penalty is considered merited, but a conviction and fine are not. 

“It can sometimes be a more meaningful punishment than the maximum fine, where the value of a maximum fine may have been eroded by inflation,” the spokesman said.

The practice predates the foundation of the State and stems from judges’ jurisdiction at common law to exercise discretion in imposing a penalty.

Organisations wishing to become a beneficiary may apply in writing to their local District Court office.