There were no police, prosecutors or formal court system in the old ways. The clan took care of its’ own for better or for worse. Your fate was inextricably woven with your relations. If your brother got into a fight and injured someone, he would be fined according to the extent of the injuries, any scarring, or permanent loss of function.  The fine and any compensation for the injuries would be determined by a Brehon. The assailant was responsible for payment, but if he did not have the means to satisfy the Brehon’s judgment then the relations “to the sixth man” would be responsible to pay. The principle was that the relations were liable to the extent that they had the right to receive a portion of the assailant’s property upon his death.  

There was no imprisonment or capital punishment, even for murder, but an offender could be ordered to serve as a slave for a certain period if fines were inadequate to fully compensate the victim’s family, or the offender’s relatives were unable to pay the required judgment. After the term of servitude the offender would return to his clan with his former status intact.