Couple who appeared at Longford court jailed for litany of thefts in serious ‘crime spree’
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Judge Seamus Hughes has jailed a couple for a number of thefts following a brief hearing at last week’s sitting of Longford District Court.
Megan Gaffey, of no fixed address, was arrested on Monday night, February 1 and charged with seven counts of theft before appearing in court last Tuesday morning.
Gda Aidan Hynes of Athlone Garda Station explained that the majority of property had been recovered at a residential address, where Ms Gaffey’s cousin lived.
Mark Costigan, The Frederick B&B, 48 Hardwick Street, Dublin 1, was also arrested on Monday night and charged with two counts of theft to which he replied “Is that the only charges I’m getting?”, Gda Hynes told the court.
Warrants issued over unpaid court fines is hitting resources, says Longford garda boss
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liam.cosgrove@longfordleader.ie
Longford Superintendent Jim Delaney has revealed how warrants issued on foot of unpaid court fines is draining garda resources at a local level );
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Garda resources are facing “additional challenges” in executing dozens of warrants issued by Longford courts on a weekly basis.
The claim was made this week by Longford Superintendent Jim Delaney on foot of a special investigation by the Leader this week which has found how hundreds of thousands of euro in fines imposed in Longford Courts has gone unpaid.
Deducting fines from Longford defendants social welfare and income is only way to fix broken system
Calls come in wake of Leader investigation into how hundreds of thousands of euro in fines before Longford courts are going unpaid
Reporter:
liam.cosgrove@longfordleader.ie
Government leaders are facing increasing calls to deduct money from source to ensure court fines are paid and recouped in full );
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Government bosses are coming under increasing pressure to enact new legislation allowing judges to deduct money from a person’s income at source in order to ensure court imposed fines are paid.
The calls come on foot of new revelations which shows €361,000 enforced before Longford Courts since October 2018 remains unrecouped.
EXCLUSIVE: Criminals choosing prison over paying Longford court fines
Hundreds of thousands of euro going uncollected, figures show
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People are “milking” Longford s judicial system by openly choosing to go to prison rather than pay court imposed fines, a special Leader investigation has found.
According to a series of documents released to this newspaper, hundreds of thousands of euro are going unpaid each year with over two thirds of monetary sanctions issued at Longford District Court level yet to be recouped.
In the 25 months, from October 1, 2018 to October 31, 2020; 2,041 fines have been issued at Longford Courts resulting in sums totalling €537,985.13.