Legal

On-the-spot fines for offences committed near national monuments

Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill will allow OPW staff to fine offenders up to €200 rather than taking lengthy prosecutions in the courts

A Star Wars fan near Skellig Michael, where several of the Star Wars series of movies were filmed. Visitors who commit offences at or near national monuments will now be charged on-the-spot fines of up to €200. Charles McQuillan/Getty

Visitors will be hit with on-the-spot fines of up to €200 if they break the rules at national monument sites such as Newgrange and Skellig Michael. The fines, which are being introduced as an alternative to taking prosecutions in the courts, will apply to the country’s estimated 126,000 national monuments.

They cover a wide range of offences including damaging a national monument, consuming alcohol or drugs on the site, and violent, offensive, threatening or indecent ...