Despite a lady removing her wig to show her operation scar following brain surgery in a bid to justify her entitlement to avail of, if only temporarily, a disabled parking space, the Garda on duty was “unimpressed.”
Her driver found himself before Clifden Court on a charge of parking in a disabled parking place without a valid permit.
The scenario was outlined to Judge Fiona Lydon by the defendant, Patrick Kinsella of Kennellworth Park, Dublin who travelled to Clifden and represented himself. He explained that on the day in question he was visiting the area for a few days. Among his party was a lady who was recovering from brain surgery.
The lady was doing some shopping and rang the defendant to come and pick her up. He arrived and pulled into the disabled parking space while she got in. When the Garda arrived he was still in his car and the engine was running.
The lady explained her situation, telling the Garda that she had applied for a disabled parking permit because of her condition. “The Garda was not impressed,” he said. At this stage she took off her wig to show the Garda her operation scar but, the defendant said: “he was still not impressed, but that is his prerogative.”
Garda Sgt Damien Prendergast pointed out that the Garda was doing his job and the defendant agreed with this and explained that he was not challenging the validity of the prosecution, simply explaining the reasons for his actions.
Judge Lydon asked the prosecuting Garda if there was any other parking in the proximity of the premises where the lady was doing her business. She was told there was underground parking available.
She said that she was going to strike out the prosecution based on its merits and enquired as to how the lady in question was doing now. “She’s doing fine,” Mr Kinsella told her.
