asked the Minister for Justice if the interest accrued on the bail money of a prisoner (details supplied) in County Cork will be paid to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Interest on Bail Money.
89.
The bail money was lodged in the District Court on 23 September 1985 and was placed in an interest-bearing deposit account until 5 December 1985 when it was transferred to the Circuit Court in the normal course because the prisoner had been sent forward for trial to the latter court. The interest which accrued up to the date of transfer of the money was paid to the prisoner. In the Circuit Court the money was placed in a current account. This is the normal procedure unless the person lodging the money requests that it be placed in a deposit account and no such request was made in this case. Interest did not, therefore, accrue on the amount during the period December, 1985 to May, 1987 when it was returned to the prisoner.
I am having the general arrangements with regard to bail lodgments in all the courts examined with a view to ensuring that interest accrues wherever possible.