Inagh man wins appeal over prematurely imposed parking bylaws

Clare County Council has come under fire for threatening legal action against a North Clare man for alleged illegal parking in Ennistymon, where new bylaws had not yet been introduced.
Brian O’Halloran, Booladuff, Inagh was issued with a parking ticket on December 2 last at an area near the entrance gates to the Falls Hotel, despite the fact new parking bylaws were not due to come into effect until January 2012.
In addition to increasing the parking ticket from €40 to €60 once the ticket wasn’t paid within 28 days, he was warned that legal proceedings would be instigated without further notice unless he paid this fine within 56 days from the alleged offence.
Mr O’Halloran confirmed late on Tuesday evening that he had received a letter in the post from Clare County Council which stated his appeal had been successful and he believes the authority will no longer be pursuing the matter.
“The name of the place where my car was parked Falls Hotel Road, which was printed on my parking ticket, does not exist.
“I am now wondering how many people have been issued with these parking tickets and more than likely they do not know that any bylaw was passed,” he says.
This gravelled area of ground, which was recently opened up and subsequently cordoned off with builders’ fencing had a sign at the back stating school buses only.
On December 2 last, Mr O’Halloran parked in this area, which has only limestone gravel as a base and went to the local library.
He claimed a number of vehicles, including the council’s environment van were parked in the area. Having returned to his vehicle about 20 minutes later, he claimed his car was the only one with a parking ticket attached to the windscreen.
Efforts to contact the relevant official at the Ennistymon office on Tuesday proved unsuccessful, as the person dealing with the issue was unavailable.