Mileage policy and new attire reason for higher judicial expenses

Judges claimed around €942,000 in the first six months of 2017, The Irish Times reports, up by 20 per cent on the same period last year.

Claims from District Court judges increased by over €110,000 (25 per cent) and from Circuit Court judges by almost €30,000 (10 per cent).

There were small increases in claims by High Court and Court of Appeal judges, and a small reduction by Supreme Court judges.

The single largest claim of almost €22,630 was made by Judge Alan Mitchell, a moveable judge of the District Court. The largest claim from the Circuit Court was for over €18,500 by Judge Brian O’Callaghan.

The largest High Court claim was €4,900 by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan. At the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice John Hedigan claimed over €2,560, two thirds of the total at that level.

Four of eight Supreme Court judges made claims totalling €820.

A spokesperson for the Courts Service said Circuit and District Court judges changed their attire this year “to a more modern, practical, and cost effective design”, contributing to higher expenses.

He said: “The costs for the first half of this year reflect this once off general change – and will result in a reduction of such costs in future years.”