Over 600 people who got awards in the Small Claims Court can’t get their money because the Galway Sheriff's Office has no Court Messenger to collect the claims.

Due to the recruitment embargo in the public service no new Court Messenger has been appointed since the last office holder retired last May.

None of the small claims awarded in Galway since last May have been collected.

At present all these are being directed to the District Court where people will have to hire a solicitor.