DOZENS of people across Co Donegal are facing substantial fines and being forced to pay arrears for failing to have TV Licences.
Fourteen cases were dealt with at Letterkenny District Court this week.
Some defendants faced fines of more than €200.
The cases – and others before other district courts in the county – are a result of a clampdown in the spring as TV Licence Inspectors called at hundreds of homes where there was no record of a licence being held.
Judge Paul Kelly was given several different excuses by the defendants – who we have decided not to name – for failing to have the licences.
The prosecutions were brought by An Post.
We understand a new wave of inspections are underway in the county.
Under new government proposals every home in the country will be required to have a TV license whether or not people have a television.
The new rules are expected to be in place next year.