A CO Down man who found a large sum of money in a court jury room last night said it will go to a "government pot" if unclaimed.
Lee Patterson from Killyleagh found the cash, believed to be around £300, in a room used by jurors at Downpatrick Courthouse.
He was acting as a juror at the court when he found the bank-type bag filled with money on May 4 and handed it in to court officials.
But Mr Patterson said he was since learned that if the cash is not claimed by its owner within six months "it all goes into a government pot".
"We were doing jury service and on the last day, Wednesday 4th May, we were all called down to the court," he said.
"As I was leaving the room, I was the last one out of the room, I saw a small plastic bank-type bag and inside it was a wad of 10 and 20 pound notes.
"There was also a piece of paper inside and it was written on it was the money what it was for.
"I handed it into the Group Four security who then handed it into the court officials. I think it could of been dropped by someone in the session before our group."
"The gripe I have is that after six months, if no-one has claimed it, then legally it goes to the person who found it to decide what to do with it.
"But I have since learned that because it was found on government property, there's no requirement for it to be given to the person who found it.
"It all goes into a government pot. As far as I know all the jurors I was with have been contacted and no-one has claimed it.
"They're looking for the session before. The note in the bag clearly stated it was for paying a bill, so the person who owns it will know what was written. But I think it's ridiculous that if the money is not claimed that it's not given to charity or something. For it to go into a government pot is unbelievable."
The Court Service was last night unavailable to comment.
