Mayo businessman not best pleased to be given ticket for illegal parking in his own loading bay

A Mayo businessman was not best pleased when he was landed with a ticket for illegally parking on a loading bay which was attached to a business owned by the defendant.

Martin Brennan, Quay Road, Westport, and owner of the West Bar, Bridge Street, Westport, pleaded guilty to having no parking disc on his vehicle which was parked on the loading bay attached to his premises.

Mr. Dermot Hewson, solicitor for Mayo County Council, who issued the summons, said a loading bay outside any premises is not for private parking and was only intended to be used for loading goods.

Mr. James Ward, solicitor for the defendant, said his client was a well known business man in Westport who provides a lot of employment locally.

“He normally parks in the James Street car park but on occasions he has stopped on the loading bay to drop off goods,” said Mr. Ward.

Mr. Ward suggested to Mr. Hewson that he might be amenable to a donation by his client to some worthy cause as his court appearance was coinciding with his 60th birthday. Mr. Hewson had no issue with that but added that the matter was for the judge to decide.

Judge Sandra Murphy said she was willing to accede to Mr. Ward’s suggestion and felt the local and very active Tidy Towns committee would be worthy benefactors of a donation of €60 which would be on a similar scale to the fine for failing to pay a parking fine.

However, when pressed further by Mr. Ward on perhaps waving the costs incurred in the case for issuing the parking ticket, Judge Murphy said she felt the defendant was unlikely to have a problem with paying the costs which amounted to €60.

* Funded under the Courts Reporting Scheme