A total of 400 parking fine cases were thrown out in the Dublin District Court today because of an ongoing shortage of judges.
The situation was described by Judge Timothy Lucey as "out of control" as he was forced to sit in three courts, including one dealing with parking fines, because colleagues are absent due to illness.
He struck out around 400 cases which were due to be dealt with in Dublin District Court. It was the second time this week that between 300 and 400 parking summonses were thrown out because there was no judge to deal with them.
It has been part of an ongoing problem since the beginning of September when the lack of judges meant that courts had to double up or cases had to be adjourned far into next year.
Angry judges are now taking to striking out cases rather than adjourning them. A strike out means they can be brought again, but they usually are not unless there is a serious element to them.
Striking out the cases today, Judge Lucey said it would be April next year before they could be dealt with. "It's not right that people should have to wait that long and have to come to court again in six months. "The situation is a nonsense and out of control," he said.
The people who turned up today for their cases were however delighted and smiled and talked happily as they left court. There are now three judges out ill and one who recently retired has yet to be replaced.