Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 9549Non-payment of fines · Co. Laois

Man jailed for 15 days over unpaid fines at Portlaoise court

Matthew McHugh, of The Heath, Portlaoise, was jailed for 15 days by Judge Andrew Cody at Portlaoise District Court for not paying outstanding fines of €700 that had been imposed on him seven years earlier. At the hearing he told the court he did not have the money and had only recently started back to work. The court report was published on 17 May 2026, and the offences for which the fines were imposed were not stated.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced17 May
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A man who failed to pay outstanding fines was sentenced to 15 days in prison for non-payment.
When
  • The fines were imposed seven years before the court hearing.
  • The court report was published on 17 May 2026.
Where
The case was heard at Portlaoise District Court in Portlaoise, County Laois.
In court
Judge Andrew Cody presided over the hearing.
Other details
  • The suspect is Matthew McHugh, a man from The Heath, Portlaoise, whose age is not given.
  • Matthew McHugh told the court he did not have the €700 owed.
  • Matthew McHugh said he had only recently started back to work.
  • The judge said the fines went back seven years and had not been paid, and asked when he would pay.
  • The original offences for which the fines were imposed were not indicated in court or in the report.
Sentence
The judge sentenced Matthew McHugh to 15 days in prison for non-payment of the fines.
7 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man who failed to pay outstanding fines was jailed for 15 days. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe fines were imposed seven years ago. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Portlaoise District Court before Judge Andrew Cody. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge sentenced him to 15 days in prison for non-payment of the fines. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe man told the court he did not have the €700 owed. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe man said he had only recently started back to work. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe offences for which the fines were imposed were not indicated in court. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 May2026
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Portlaoise Court: Jailed for not paying fines

    Court report on a single hearing at Portlaoise District Court in which Matthew McHugh was sentenced to 15 days in prison for non-payment of fines. The original offences and the date of the hearing are not stated.

    convicted, Matthew McHugh, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew McHugh