West Mayo councillor claims parking fine to working man 'sends out the wrong message'

A MAYO councillor has hit out at a Westport parking warden who issued a parking ticket to a 'working man' who had already bought a ticket to cover him for the day.

Independent councillor John O'Malley told the monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District that the issuing of a ticket against the man had sent out the wrong message and he does not want it to happen again.

The Carrowholly-based councillor told the meeting that his friend had paid for parking in the James Street car park in Westport for the whole day while he did work in the area. During the day, he said this man had to leave the car park to pick up items for work and when he returned his space was gone and there was none free.

Cllr O'Malley outlined that he decided to park close to a wall along with two other cars and in doing so mounted the kerb to give other cars extra space before going along with his business. When he returned, he was issued with a €80 parking fee which Cllr O'Malley said was not right as he had already bought a ticket for the day.

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“It was wrong and sends out the wrong message. Here is a man who is working a long day and he comes out and this is what happens. He has a ticket because he moved his vehicle from one place to another and went up on the kerb. All he was doing was making more room.

“He went up the kerb to more room but he got a parking ticket for €80. He had the ticket paid for the day and there was another vehicle who wasn't and he did not get a ticket. I don't think it was fair,” Cllr O'Malley told the meeting.

Cllr O'Malley also explained that the footpath where the person had mounted is not used by members of the public and he denied he was blocking access to anyone.

“He was very upset about it because he thought he was done badly. It would leave a bad taste in the mouth if it happened to tourists,” he concluded.