The Courts Service has responded to claims that it is behind a legal loophole which has seen some 17,000 motorists convicted of driving offences, escape penalty points.

The Road Safety Authority said the discrepancy came about because court clerks are not legally obliged to record and pass on the licence numbers of drivers convicted in court.

However in a statement, the Courts Service says its staff “can and do” undertake the recording of driving licences, but can only do so when a licence is produced.