Spate of prosecutions in Mayo for non-payment of TV licence
More than 20 prosecutions were heard last week at Castlebar District Court.
An Post brought more than 20 prosecutions for the non-payment of the television licence fee before a sitting of Castlebar District Court last Thursday.
Nine cases were withdrawn by the prosecution and 14 were adjourned with one case dismissed after it was contested by the accused.
Fines and expenses totalling €793 were issued to four individuals who admitted not having a TV licence at the time inspections were carried out in 2023.
A licence inspector called to the home of Patrick Melliot at Rosmor, Castlebar on April 26, 2023. He admitted having a TV and no licence.
Judge Fiona Lydon ordered him to repay €147 for the lost revenue and €75 in costs. Mr Melliot obtained a licence this month.
On June 13, 2023, an inspector called to home of George Secara at Chapel Lane, Castlebar. He had a TV and no licence. Mr Secara, a Romanian national, claimed he did not fully understand the law at the time and bought a licence last month. He was fined €120 for lost revenue and must pay €75 in costs.
In the same month - June 2023 - an inspector called to home of Robert Velze at Springdale, Claremorris. He had a TV and no licence. Mr Velze, a Dutch national, told the court he only used the TV for Netflix and did not realise it required a licence. He purchased a licence in February 2024.
He was ordered to pay €106 for lost revenue and €75 in costs.
On June 16, 2023, an inspector called to Alan Neville’s residence at Lisnaboley Lane, Claremorris. He did not have a licence for his television set. He was fined €120 and ordered to pay costs of €75.
Mark Kiernan, of Lisbaun, Claremorris, contested the prosecution brought against him.
TV license inspector Stephen O’Hara told the court he visited Mr Kieran’s address on June 15, 2023. He said Mr Kiernan admitted having a TV but no licence. This version of events was disputed by Mr Kiernan.
Giving evidence in court, Mr Kiernan said that on the date in question he heard a loud bang at his door at 8.30pm and the noise woke his sleeping baby. Mr Kiernan said he asked three times who was at the door before opening.
He said no questions were put to him about whether he had a TV or a licence. Mr Kiernan said he was just asked if he lived at the address. He claimed the licence inspector laughed and told him "Unlucky". Mr Kiernan said the inspector saw that his baby was crying and told him he would be contacted in two weeks. Mr Kiernan told the court he downloaded a form from the An Post website stating that he did not own a TV and also sent a letter of complaint to An Post about the conduct of the inspector.
Judge Fiona Lydon decided to dismiss the prosecution against Mr Kiernan.
Figures obtained by the revealed that more than 13,000 were summonsed to appear before the courts last year for non-payment of the television licence, with the numbers facing prosecution since the RTÉ controversy broke in June increasing by 33% a month.
