Kerry paid 40% of total court poor box funds countrywide

Kerry accounted for 40 per cent of the money paid into court poor boxes in 2014.

Offenders in Kerry contributed €883,527 making up a large part of the total for the whole country, which was more than €2.18 million.

The payments, mainly arising out of district court cases, are generally contributed in lieu of conviction for first-time and minor offences.

A number of overseas charities received substantial contributions, mainly due to the directions of Kerry judge, James O’Connor. Individual judges decide on the charities to benefit.

Local charities benefited modestly from the money donated by offenders in Kerry, in comparison to organisations involved with overseas aid. The international charities received almost €700,000 of the money contributed to the county’s poor box.

Sightsavers received €120,000 from Kerry. The Christian Blind Mission got €120,000, Ethiopia id €90,000, Oxfam Ireland €40,559, Bóthar €35,800, Action Aid Ireland €38,000, Vita €32,000, Gorta €31,500, Plan €20,000, Trócaire €20,000, Unicef Ireland €20,170, Concern €11,000, Breadline Africa €10,000 and Self-Help Africa €3,000. The Irish Red Cross received €33,920.

Among domestic charities, the Alzheimer Society in Tralee got €250.

The Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, which has publicly called for funds from the box, got €200.The St Vincent de Paul society in Dingle got €250 while the organisation in Castleisland got €2,000.

Kerry Respite Care got €200 and Men Overcoming Violent Emotion got €500.

The Federation for Victim Assistance, which previously called for funding from the Kerry box, received €200.