Fifteen motorists accused of repeatedly avoiding M50 toll payments, including owners of private cars, trucks and vans, have been fined a combined total of €265,000 after failing to appear before court, reports RTE.
Judge Anthony Halpin heard today that one driver had accumulated more than 600 unpaid journeys on the country’s busiest motorway, reports RTE.
The motorists, who had received hundreds of warning notices, did not attend their hearings, although the cases proceeded in their absence.
One defendant who did appear in court, and who allegedly owed around €14,000, was warned by the judge that he risked committing perjury, reports RTE.
Earlier during proceedings at Dublin District Court, Judge Halpin remarked that many defendants ignore the process and “think the rest of us have to pay their tolls for them”, reports RTE.
Judge Halpin imposed the maximum possible fine of €25,000 on seven of the motorists.
The remaining defendants who failed to attend court received fines ranging from €4,000 to €15,000, along with €350 in legal costs, all payable within three months, reports RTE.
Among those fined was registered vehicle owner Julie O’Donnell of Hampton Wood Drive, Finglas, Dublin 11.
The court heard she faced five sample summonses relating to journeys made last August. Judge Halpin noted evidence showing that no tolls had been paid across a total of 637 journeys and that she had been the registered owner of the vehicle since 2024, reports RTE.
She had the highest number of unpaid toll crossings among all cases before the court today.
Three commercial vehicle owners were also among the defendants and each received the maximum available fine, reports RTE.
One of those was Glenn Madden of The Park, Millbrook Lawns, Tallaght, Dublin 24, after the court heard his heavy goods vehicle had failed to pay tolls on 390 occasions.
The lowest penalties were imposed on motorists who had at least paid some of their toll charges, reports RTE.
Prosecuting barrister Thomas Rice, instructed by Pierse Fitzgibbon Solicitors, told the court that each defendant faced five sample charges relating to journeys made mainly between April and November 2025, and that the matters could proceed despite their absence.
A prosecution witness confirmed that full records were available for every vehicle, including registration details, dates and times of travel, reports RTE.
The court also heard evidence outlining each defendant’s payment history and confirming they were the registered owners of the vehicles at the relevant times.
Photographic images showing the vehicles passing through the toll gantry formed part of the prosecution evidence, reports RTE.
The court has the power to impose fines of up to €5,000 per offence as well as prison sentences of up to six months. However, the motorway operator generally prosecutes only habitual non-payers. The standard toll charge for a private car is currently €3.80 if paid before 8pm the following day, after which penalties are applied, reports RTE.
Additional surcharges are added after 56 days, followed by warning letters and ultimately court proceedings if the outstanding toll remains unpaid. Commercial and goods vehicle operators are charged higher tolls, while liability rests with the registered owner.
Fourteen other cases were adjourned to allow defendants an opportunity to engage with motorway operators, reports RTE.
One matter was struck out after the judge was informed that the toll issue had been resolved.
The defendant who was warned about the risk of perjury appeared separately on a civil list, and his case was adjourned until September, reports RTE.
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