Mother of five recovering from cancer taken to jail after not paying her tv license

Sam Kade

colossus-x wrote: »

I've gotten away with it for years. Just don't answer the doorbell when your not expecting anyone.

They are tracking you down this very minute through your boards account. After paying the fine you'll be sitting in your underpants eating cornflakes while watching television

Bruthal

esforum wrote: »

My grandmother died from Leukemia and my uncle is still recovering, neither had to stop paying their TV license fees

I guess if you got that news of such illness yourself, the tv licence would be the first thing on your mind.

kneemos

Bruthal wrote: »

I guess if you got that news of such illness yourself, the tv licence would be the first thing on your mind.

It would after the many warnings and particularly the court summons.

L.Jenkins

Clandestine wrote: »

Licence fee should be removed. There should be no state funded tv whatsoever

If we don't pay for RTE, who will be the State spin Doctors? :P

Bruthal

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

Because tv is a basic right like water and electricity and food and paying for it is a breach of human rights.

Law is optional and you get to choose which ones to obey and which not to.

My one is out a few weeks. Am I choosing which laws to obey also?

Do you ever break any what so ever? Or is this perfect law abiding citizen thing just for the others on boards to see and appreciate?

Bruthal

kneemos wrote: »

It would after the many warnings and particularly the court summons.

Yea, im sure it would.

Taco Chips

esforum wrote: »

Why are you presuming Cancer patients are poor?

My grandmother died from Leukemia and my uncle is still recovering, neither had to stop paying their TV license fees.

And as has been pointed out. You dont get dragged from the sitting room to jail

You get a call at the door

you get a written letter

you get a warning

you get a summons

you get a fine

you go to jail

Exctly how manu times should people be allowed ignore the law and suit themselves before action is taken? Presumable as shes poor, we shouldnt deducat at source and as shes sick she cant do community service so hey, **** it.Away with ya and by the way, you are now immune from prosecution for no reason other than a completely irelevent illness.

Well illness and especially debilitating conditions like cancer cause people a lot of hardship; financial, emotional and the rest of it. Money is eaten up in a lot of ways, on treatment not immediately covered by the state like private PETs, CTs, on travel costs and accommodation for people who are coming from rural areas to specialist centres, on hiring home help, physiotherapy, psychological support etc... Some people need to spend a lot of money to have their homes refitted to their new needs. The point is very often the state doesn't cover a lot of these costs or can't do so in a time frame suitable for the patient so it's paid out of pocket. Unsurprisingly all these costs will take precedence and there just mightn't be anything left over to pay the tv licence and top up the pensions of Ryan Tubridy, Marian Finucane, David McSavage and the other assortment of assholes in Montrose.

Nodin

BreadnBuddha wrote: »

Can't afford a TV license? Then you can't afford to have a TV.

Same as having a car and not taxing it.

Same as taking a train and not buying a ticket.

No sympathy for her. They should have flogged the TV and let the kids watch stuff on the laptop. Students the world over do just that every bloody day.

Just watch now, when everyone goes mad making excuses for her and crying OUTRAGE while ignoring the fact that the license is a tax and she was caught dodging it while the rest of us pay our dues.

It's the likes of these eejits who expose themselves to prosecution (instead of ditching the telly) who screw everyone else. She's old enough to remember the 1980's in Ireland when plenty of people didn't have a telly because times were tough and they couldn't afford one.

All her own, and her husbands making.

22 posts before the usual. Not bad, all told.

Bruthal

BreadnBuddha wrote: »

Compassion doesn't pay for public services.

If it did, I`d say you`d pay nothing.

end of the road

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

It's about 3 quid a week, not exactly going to break the bank to pay it.

Anyone who doesn't pay it is getting a service the rest of us have to pay for so I'm glad they get caught.

what service are they getting. the rest of us choose to pay for this so called service by having a tv. what happened to this woman was a waste of everyones time and money and achieved nothing.

Bruthal

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

It's about 3 quid a week, not exactly going to break the bank to pay it.

It wont be missed so, if its not paid.

esforum

Taco Chips wrote: »

Well illness and especially debilitating conditions like cancer cause people a lot of hardship; financial, emotional and the rest of it. Money is eaten up in a lot of ways, on treatment not immediately covered by the state like private PETs, CTs, on travel costs and accommodation for people who are coming from rural areas to specialist centres, on hiring home help, physiotherapy, psychological support etc... Some people need to spend a lot of money to have their homes refitted to their new needs. The point is very often the state doesn't cover a lot of these costs or can't do so in a time frame suitable for the patient so it's paid out of pocket. Unsurprisingly all these costs will take precedence and there just mightn't be anything left over to pay the tv licence and top up the pensions of Ryan Tubridy, Marian Finucane, David McSavage and the other assortment of assholes in Montrose.

so ditch the TV then.

Seems a simple answer to me, if you cant pay for something then you cannot have it. I would love a sports car but it aint happening anytime soon because kids need nappies, food, clothes and the bills have to be paid.

esforum

Bruthal wrote: »

I guess if you got that news of such illness yourself, the tv licence would be the first thing on your mind.

So we only deal with the first thing and ignore all others? Is that why my grandmother died? Because she paid the TV license and this forgot to get treatment?

Millions of people have illnesses and they pay their bills and taxes. I notice the TV was able to be switched on, guess she remembered to pay the electricity bill

Bruthal

esforum wrote: »

so ditch the TV then.

Seems a simple answer to me, if you cant pay for something then you cannot have it. I would love a sports car but it aint happening anytime soon because kids need nappies, food, clothes and the bills have to be paid.

Some of the analogies on boards bring peoples connection with reality into question.

dreamers75

Seen this on FB few minutes ago, the person should take down the 2 seperate holiday photos from her public profile.


Makes the poor lady part seem ummm bollox...

Bruthal

esforum wrote: »

So we only deal with the first thing and ignore all others? Is that why my grandmother died? Because she paid the TV license and this forgot to get treatment?

Millions of people have illnesses and they pay their bills and taxes. I notice the TV was able to be switched on, guess she remembered to pay the electricity bill

My licence is out, the tv is still working.

The electricity doesnt get switched off the second the bill is unpaid.

Again, the analagy you make there about the death is madness. Utter nonsense. If you get diagnosed with a life threatening illness, I doubt your silly tv licence will be on your mind. Cop on ffs.

end of the road

esforum wrote: »

so ditch the TV then.

and when the broadcasting charge comes in they can ditch everything including the phone. even if the phone is just used for basic calls and texts. brilliant!!!!!!!

esforum wrote: »

Seems a simple answer to me, if you cant pay for something then you cannot have it.

well, clearly they have paid for the tv (unless they got it off the back of a truck) so, not simple after all.

esforum wrote: »

I would love a sports car but it aint happening anytime soon because kids need nappies, food, clothes and the bills have to be paid.

whats a sports car got to do with a tv?

esforum

Bruthal wrote: »

Some of the analogies on boards bring peoples connection with reality into question.

its completely accurate, essentials get covered. Optional extras when money allows

Bruthal wrote: »

My licence is out, the tv is still working.

The electricity doesnt get switched off the second the bill is unpaid.

and you are given, as I showed, about 5 or 6 chances spread across at least 6 months before you are summoned and that takes another couple of months. You then get 2 or 3 months to pay the fine,

But in all reality, I think the comment above mine puts this thread to bed. 2 holidays!

esforum

end of the road wrote: »

and when the broadcasting charge comes in they can ditch everything including the phone. even if the phone is just used for basic calls and texts. brilliant!!!!!!!

Irelevent, we are talking about the here and now, the TV license, not what may or may not take place in the future

end of the road wrote: »

well, clearly they have paid for the tv (unless they got it off the back of a truck) so, not simple after all.

You arent entitled to possess a working TV without a license, thats kinda the whole point of the thread. You cant drive a car on public roads without tax either.

end of the road wrote: »

whats a sports car got to do with a tv?

they are both optional items that are not a necessity but people like to have. Some have them and some dont. the people that have them are required to tax them.

Bruthal

esforum wrote: »

its completely accurate, essentials get covered. Optional extras when money allows

Yea, I understand....

and you are given, as I showed, about 5 or 6 chances spread across at least 6 months

How did you find that out, research?

But in all reality, I think the comment above mine puts this thread to bed. 2 holidays!

I was on holidays for half of last year. Still the licence can wait.

esforum

Bruthal wrote: »

How did you find that out, research?

Yes, I know how the various systems in Ireland operate and try not to comment unless I do.

Bruthal wrote: »

I was on holidays for half of last year. Still the licence can wait.

And so it shall, for a while and then you can go to jail as well

(may I ask, are you drunk?)

Bruthal

esforum wrote: »

And so it shall, for a while and then you can go to jail as well

And why would I be going to jail?

(may I ask, are you drunk?)

You may ask what you like.

Disgruntled Badger

TV licence is a joke. Just used to supplement salaries of the darling brigade.

thattequilagirl

Even for those who feel she definitely should pay, surely you agree that jail is a disproportionate punishment?

TallGlass

BreadnBuddha wrote: »

Can't afford a TV license? Then you can't afford to have a TV.

Considering you can buy a brand new TV these days for less than half the cost of the TV license fee, then I would be inclined to think that yes you can own a TV if you can't afford the TV license.

TallGlass

esforum wrote: »

You arent entitled to possess a working TV without a license, thats kinda the whole point of the thread. You cant drive a car on public roads without tax either.

Well if that is the case, then when we buy a TV we should be asked to produce our TV license along with valid ID, second hand TV sales and the market should be closely monitored.

Come on, I don't think anyone in Ireland has a problem with the concept of any of these charges or taxes be it household/water/TV/car tax, the problem most people have is the price of the charges are ridiculously high. It's outrageous, and in most cases the price of the object is significantly less than the cost of the tax been imposed.

Think about it, what would you value the service you get from RTE? Is it really worth 160€. I would say max 80€ for what the provide, I remember years ago also, the Minister for Communications didn't even know the price of the fee.

Graces7

colossus-x wrote: »

I've gotten away with it for years. Just don't answer the doorbell when your not expecting anyone.

They left a nasty letter here when I was out so do not count on your method,,, Nasty person had reported my digiweb broadband satellite dish.. knew who it was as he had apparently boasted in the pub..Had strong words with An Post as they had the wrong townland on the address... and I had a free licence anyway and no TV...

kneemos

thattequilagirl wrote: »

Even for those who feel she definitely should pay, surely you agree that jail is a disproportionate punishment?

She didn't go to jail.The system is a ridiculous waste of money I'd agree,that's why we need attachment orders, to take the money from their income.
My bet is we'd see a lot less defaulting on payments when they know they can't get away with it by being admitted to jail,having a cup of tea and a sandwich and going home.

TallGlass

kneemos wrote: »

She didn't go to jail.The system is a ridiculous waste of money I'd agree,that's why we need attachment orders, to take the money from their income.
My bet is we'd see a lot less defaulting on payments when they know they can't get away with it by being admitted to jail,having a cup of tea and a sandwich and going home.

She did go to jail. The women is out on TR at the moment, which is still been in prison, if she breeches the peace she will be put back in to serve the rest of her term.

kneemos

TallGlass wrote: »

She did go to jail. The women is out on TR at the moment, which is still been in prison, if she breeches the peace she will be put back in to serve the rest of her term.

The link says nothing about going to jail,and being on TR is definitely not the same as being in prison.
The usual carry on in these cases is get processed and go home.

TallGlass

kneemos wrote: »

The link says nothing about going to jail,and being on TR is definitely not the same as being in prison.
The usual carry on in these cases is get processed and go home.

She said on the NB show that she was brought to court/jail and then released on TR, temp release is technically still been imprisoned, you are restricted in what you can or cannot do, if she breeches the peace as I said she will be held and brought before a court again and most likely the sentence will be activated, imprisonment in an institution will follow.

TallGlass

HanaleiJ5N wrote: »

If one can only afford to settle for and pay less than €80 for a brand new tiny ****e quality tv then I doubt they have the means to easily dispense with €160.

For some people, that is all they want and will suit there needs perfectly fine.

Bubbaclaus

People having sympathy for a person that deliberately and knowingly dodged tax?

Entitled Ireland rearing it's ugly head yet again.

kneemos

TallGlass wrote: »

She said on the NB show that she was brought to court/jail and then released on TR, temp release is technically still been imprisoned, you are restricted in what you can or cannot do, if she breeches the peace as I said she will be held and brought before a court again and most likely the sentence will be activated, imprisonment in an institution will follow.

She was processed and sent home?That's not being in prison.
TR is not technically or any other way still being imprisoned.

TallGlass

kneemos wrote: »

She was processed and sent home?That's not being in prison.
TR is not technically or any other way still being imprisoned.

She was processed, held and told there was no capacity to hold her. She was been granted temp release, did she have any way to get home. Seemingly they asked her was she 'retarted', cause she was stressing out or something. All this was on the Boylan show.

Well if its not prison then what exactly are you on temporary release from? Is it your local supermarket or post office letting you out for the day?

So what do you think happens if you happen to find yourself in a situation with the Garda and it turns out your out of release, they send you on your way home?

aphex™

Renua want to abolish the TV license. And, hopefully liquidate most of RTE with it.

seamus

MilesMorales1 wrote: »

Good to see the government has its priorities right.

Actually it has. It's brought in legislation to ensure that people no longer go to prison for non-payment of fines like this. Instead it comes out of their income.

It's good to see you've been paying attention though. It's not like there's an election coming up or anything.

kneemos

TallGlass wrote: »

She was processed, held and told there was no capacity to hold her. She was been granted temp release, did she have any way to get home. Seemingly they asked her was she 'retarted', cause she was stressing out or something. All this was on the Boylan show.

Well if its not prison then what exactly are you on temporary release from? Is it your local supermarket or post office letting you out for the day?

So what do you think happens if you happen to find yourself in a situation with the Garda and it turns out your out of release, they send you on your way home?

She was processed and let go.Prison is spending time in a cell.
TR I presume means if she gets arrested she serves her 'three days'.All she has to do is obey the law,like the other 99% of us.

TallGlass

kneemos wrote: »

She was processed and let go.Prison is spending time in a cell.
TR I presume means if she gets arrested she serves her 'three days'.All she has to do is obey the law,like the other 99% of us.

She wasn't just processed, She was arrested, Place in a cell in the station in holding until a Garda can bring her to court, case processed and again held in holding cell, then given TR as the prison was full.

So yes she was in prison.

And yes the sentence will be reactivated and she may end up serving more than the original sentence. But the point is she is still a 'prisoner' and my point is more so this is an absolute waste of resources. The cost of processing this farcical far out weights any gains.

The cherry on the cake for me really is the fact that you get a TV in your cell for free !

arybvtcw0eolkf

BreadnBuddha wrote: »

No sympathy for her. They should have flogged the TV and let the kids watch stuff on the laptop. Students the world over do just that every bloody day..

Not a very bright thing to post.

Since 2009 the TV license also covers laptops, phones and anything else which can receive TV stations.

Prior to this amendment we were all safe from the clutches of the TV license inspector if you didn't have a TV set but received your programmes via another means.

seamus

Jaliyah Rapid Carp wrote: »

Not a very bright thing to post.

Since 2009 the TV license also covers laptops, phones and anything else which can receive TV stations.

Prior to this amendment we were all safe from the clutches of the TV license inspector if you didn't have a TV set but received your programmes via another means.

That's not correct mate. The fabled broadcasting charge was never produced, so it's still a case of no TV, no TV licence.

Phones and laptops aren't covered by the licence, it's not required.

kneemos

TallGlass wrote: »

She wasn't just processed, She was arrested, Place in a cell in the station in holding until a Garda can bring her to court, case processed and again held in holding cell, then given TR as the prison was full.

So yes she was in prison.

And yes the sentence will be reactivated and she may end up serving more than the original sentence. But the point is she is still a 'prisoner' and my point is more so this is an absolute waste of resources. The cost of processing this farcical far out weights any gains.

The cherry on the cake for me really is the fact that you get a TV in your cell for free !

No.She would have gone to the prison from court,filled in a few forms and let go.She is in no way by any imagination a prisoner,she did not spend time in prison and she can't serve more time than the original sentence.Also she was in a cell to watch telly.

TallGlass

kneemos wrote: »

No.She would have gone to the prison from court,filled in a few forms and let go.She is in no way by any imagination a prisoner,she did not spend time in prison and she can't serve more time than the original sentence.Also she was in a cell to watch telly.

Did you hear what she said on the show ?

She was arrested by Garda at her local station, held and brought to court, after her case was heard, held in the holding cells there, then brought to prison, from there again held until she was granted TR.

And yes she is prisoner, if you are arrested and held your a prisoner, at no moment could she decide to call it a day and head on home to have a cup of tea and put the feet up.

Yes she can spend more time than the original sentence, if she is convicted of another offence while on TL she will serve both.

kneemos

TallGlass wrote: »

Did you hear what she said on the show ?

She was arrested by Garda at her local station, held and brought to court, after her case was heard, held in the holding cells there, then brought to prison, from there again held until she was granted TR.

And yes she is prisoner, if you are arrested and held your a prisoner, at no moment could she decide to call it a day and head on home to have a cup of tea and put the feet up.

Yes she can spend more time than the original sentence, if she is convicted of another offence while on TL she will serve both.

Why did she not just go to court normally?
Was there a bench warrent for her arrest?

seamus

kneemos wrote: »

Why did she not just go to court normally?
Was there a bench warrent for her arrest?

Head in the sand. Ignore it, pretend it's not happening.

It's an understandable human reaction, but it's infuriating when the same people complain about the "ordeal" of being arrested and brought to court when it was entirely their own fault for letting it get that far.

esforum

seamus wrote: »

Head in the sand. Ignore it, pretend it's not happening.

It's an understandable human reaction, but it's infuriating when the same people complain about the "ordeal" of being arrested and brought to court when it was entirely their own fault for letting it get that far.

this this this

She knew she had to tave a license. Ok, so it slipped down the priorities, it happens.

You then get either a knock on the door or a letter reminding you that its a requirement.

Further time passes and you get another letter warning you

You then get a summons to court which obliges you to attend

You are found guilty and given a month or 2 to get the license and pay whatever fine was imposed, usually the 1 to 200 mark or failing to pay, a prison sentence again usually about 7 days.

The only time you will see a prison is if you have refused to co-operate at every single step along the way and eventually, after all these steps theres no alternative but jail.

Regarding the Gardai, the only time you will be arrested in a surprise unplanned manner is if you have after refusing to co-operate have either not bothered going to court (bench warrant) or have refused to pay the fine (committal warrant) and as such the Gardai will arrest you and bring you to court or jail. To make matters worse in these cases, 9 out of 10 times the Gardai will call you and invite you to do all this at a time that suits you and when you have had a chance to make arrangements ie babysitters and work, etc.

I am sorry but by the time judges and Gardai get involved you have completely and thoroughly pissed all over the state, its servants, its rules and time.

I actually disagree with the license for TV and dogs by the way but I am not stupid enough to just decide I will only pay taxes I like.

Caliden

It's €13 a month.

If you can't afford €13 a month and still have a tv then you need to sort your priorities.

07Lapierre

Can Some one clarify one point?

its my understanding that you have to pay a TV license if your house "has the ability to recived a TV Signal". This means you must pay a TV license if your house has a TV cable with an access point ( Land Cable or Satellite/aerial source).

So if you don't want to pay for a TV licence, not having a TV is not enough, you must have the source of the TV signal removed too. (At least that's my understanding of the law)

Son Of A Vidic

FalconGirl wrote: »

The fact of the matter is many people who were complicit in bringing the country to its knees have not spent a day in jail. Just think about it....

Pathetic isn't it when you see cases like this.

And let's hope everyone remembers that fact, when they walk into the polling booth on Friday

end of the road

Bubbaclaus wrote: »

People having sympathy for a person that deliberately and knowingly dodged tax?

Entitled Ireland rearing it's ugly head yet again.

she didn't dodge tax. she couldn't pay her tv licence. hardly the end of the world. honestly, the fo outrage because someone didn't pay a tv licence is laughable. yet nothing about the waste of money in bringing these people to jail to be sent home again, wasting everyones time.

Caliden wrote: »

It's €13 a month.

If you can't afford €13 a month and still have a tv then you need to sort your priorities.

complete rubbish.