Judge has dispensed over €2.25m to local clubs and causes since taking office
The presiding district court judge in Longford and Westmeath, Seamus Hughes, has given over €2.25 million to clubs, organisations and causes in the counties since his appointment through his court “poor box” scheme.
Throughout the year, the district court deals with various criminal cases which are finalised by way of payments by defendants to the court poor box. The majority of these involve prosecutions for possession of small amounts of illegal drugs, which have arisen from garda operations carried out at music festivals held in Westmeath every year.
This year alone, the judge has allocated €167,750 to various beneficiaries in Westmeath.
In the Mullingar District Court area, a total of €117,250 has been set aside in 2020. The beneficiaries are: Clonkill Hurling Club (€4,000), Loughegar Community Group (€750), Clonkill Camogie Club (€1,500), Westmeath LGFA (€5,000), Mullingar Kyokushinkai Karate Club (€750), Mullingar Enhancement Group (€5,000), Mullingar Archery Club (€750), Westmeath GAA underage hurling (€4,000), Streete Warriors Basketball Club (€1,000), The Downs GAA (€3,000), Mullingar EYE (€7,000), Ballycomoyle GAA (€2,000), BCDL Friendship Club (€500), Westmeath Minotaurs American Football Club (€500), Irish Wheelchair Association bus fund (€2,000), St Michael’s NS, Castletown-Geoghegan (€4,000), Mullingar Harriers and Athletic Club (€5,000), Mullingar Rugby Football Club (€2,000), St Mary’s GAA, Rochfortbridge (€2,000), Milltown GAA (€2,000), Mullingar Mental Health Association (€1,000), Presentation Junior School (€1,500), Collinstown Pitch and Putt Club (€1,000), Polio Survivors Ireland (€1,500), Taughmon/Turin Social Services (€500), Raharney United AFC (€1,000), The Downs Senior Citizens (€1,000), Mullingar Union of Parishes (€3,000), St Loman’s GAA, Mullingar (€5,000), Mullingar Shamrocks GAA (€5,000), The Lynn Singers (€2,000), Westmeath Support Services (€20,000), St Oliver Plunkett’s Hurling Club (€15,000), Mullingar Tidy Towns (€2,000), Shandonagh GAA (€3,000), Westmeath SPCA (€2,000), Gallen United FC (€2,000).
In the Athlone District Court area, another €50,500 was allocated. The beneficiaries are: the Society of St Vincent de Paul (€2,000), Athlone Tri Club (€1,000), Independent People with Disabilities Ltd (€2,000), Esker House (€20,000), Athlone Drug Awareness Group (€3,000), Irish Pilgrimage Trust (€2,000), Irish Girl Guides Athlone (€1,000), Midlands Simon Community (€2,000), ALF Project (€10,000), Summerhill Autism Unit (€3,500), Athlone Tidy Towns (€2,000).
With music festivals off the agenda for the foreseeable future pending a resolution to the Covid-19 crisis, the ability of the court poor box to facilitate clubs, organisations and causes with financial assistance is expected to be severely impacted in 2021.