“You don’t have to love it, but you have to pay it.” This was the message sent out clearly at Ballinasloe District Court when a number of defendants were prosecuted for failing to have a valid TV licence when an An Post inspector called.
One individual, who Judge James Faughnan was told still hadn’t acquired a licence, despite the inspector warning him that he had to have one when he called to his home, was fined €250 and ordered to pay €150 in costs. This individual will also have to meet the €160 licence fee as is required by law, bringing his out-of-pocket expenses to €560 or risk further prosecution and expense.
Several other defendants who had purchased a licence after they were caught having a TV set without one, and paid arrears, were still ordered to pay €150 to meet the costs of bringing their cases to court.
One lucky TV sponger avoided the €250 fine the judge imposed when he explained that since he had been detected not having a licence he had become eligible for a free one as he had reached pension age.
The judge struck out the fine but insisted he still had to pay €150 for the cost of bringing the matter before the court.
