A judge presiding over TV licence prosecutions has criticised RTE for what was described as elitism, "Godlike personalities", and "freeloaders" while defendants were "crippled with the cost of living".
It was heard at Dublin District Court.
Before hearing 159 prosecutions around the TV licence Judge Anthony Halpin said he was disgusted and appalled by the ongoing controversy at the broadcaster.
He said the people before the Court were accused of failing to pay and may feel hard done by when they see the way RTE abused statutory funding.
Quoting Hamlet - Judge Halpin said "there's something rotten in the State of Denmark" - describing activities in RTÉ as shenanigans and mischievous.
He said he is saddened those before the court are crippled with the cost of living and have to see this money be squandered and abused.
The Judge continued to say the law is the law - and will give more time to those who need it to pay the TV licence.
If they do pay they will be without a conviction - however if they choose not to pay he will have no choice but to convict.
People can be fined up to 1,000 euro for not paying a TV licence or 2,000 euro for a repeat offence.
