Charity boost as Laois Offaly courts distribute €121, 000 from Poor Box

More than half the Court Poor Box money donated to charities across Laois and Offaly came from Electric Picnic drug prosecutions.  

Judge Andrew Cody announced the charity donations at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court this morning. 

In total €121,000 will be paid out to 85 charitable organisations, primarily based across the two counties. The payments are being made to addiction, homeless, mental health, domestic support and animal welfare charities, among others.  

Uniquely in Ireland, the Laois Offaly Court District has established a committee who decide on where the money should be donated. 

Speaking at the announcement of the Court Poor Box donations for 2023 Judge Andrew Cody said he had established the committee as he wouldn’t have known the local charities in the area.  

“Most regular attendees at the District Court will be familiar with the basic concept of the Court Poor Box system: 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 Court Poor Box,” he explained.  

“Typical cases where the Court Poor Box is 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, and payments to the Court Poor Box are generally less than €500 in each case. The benefits of giving a first-time minor 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,” said Judge Cody. 

All of the Court Poor Box donations are fully audited and Judge Cody said he wanted to announce the details in the interest of transparency. 

“Approximately €50,000 has already been donated through the Court Poor Box where I would have directed, in court, a specific payment to a specific charity. The balance on hand for distribution this year was €121,000,” he said. 

The donations are lodged centrally to the Courts Service and fully audited, and a full list of donations by each District are published on the Courts website each year. 

This year the committee set up to advise on the distribution of the funds was: Catherine Magnier Portlaoise Court Office Manager,  Breda Costello of Tullamore Court Office Manager,  Garda Inspectors Barry Collins and Jane Ryan, Solicitor Emily Mahon from Tullamore  and Gerry Meagher in Portlaoise.  

Following a meeting in the last week this Committee agreed unanimously to donate €121,000 from the Court Poor Box.

“The increased resources allowed us to be more generous this year. This arose primarily from the increased donations following prosecutions for possession of drugs arising out of the  Electric Picnic. The total this year from Electric Picnic was approximately €70,000,” said Judge Cody. 

“We were able to assist small local projects such as an ASD unit in a local school, to large international charities such as UNICEF. However, most donations are for local well deserving charities and organisations who provide enormous assistance to the communities of Laois and Offaly. 

Pictured Above: A  list of the charities provided by the Courts Service 

“For addiction services we were able to donate €7,000 to such charities including a donation of €4,000 to Cuain Mhuire. For Homeless charities we were able to donate €10,000. For Mental Health support groups, we were able to donate €10,000. The total for addiction, mental health and homeless charities was €41,000,” said Judge Cody.  

Pictured Above: A  list of the charities provided by the Courts Service 

“For Hospice and Cancer support services we were able to donate €10,500. International Charities will receive €6,000 while local animal welfare charities receive €6,000. Traveller support groups received €4,000.

Pictured Above: A  list of the charities provided by the Courts Service 

Children's charities received €3,500, Youth support groups €9,000, and Sports clubs  €8,500, giving a total for Children, Youth and sport charities of € 21,000.  Domestic support charities received €4,500. The Lions Clubs received €8,000 and the Saint Vincent de Paul €16,000.

Pictured Above: A  list of the charities provided by the Courts Service 

The Midlands Prisoner Support group received €2,000, the tidy towns €1,000, benevolent groups €4,500 and Disability Support organisations €5,000. Finally, support for “older” people received €2,500,” Judge Cody concluded.