Close to €7,000 paid into Cavan and Monaghan court poor boxes last year

Just under one million euro was paid into poor boxes in courts last year.

That figure includes €6,675 across Cavan and Monaghan,

Judges can ask people to give money to charity, instead of convicting them of a crime.

In Cavan, €4,050 was paid into the poor box, and €2,625 in Monaghan.

Among the local organisations and charities to benefit was SOSAD, Pieta House, Crocus Cancer Support Centre, the Fr Peter McVerry Trust, and local St Vincent de Paul branches.

Meanwhile, €177,000 euro was donated to court poor boxes in the Criminal Courts of Justice last year, the highest figure nationally.