Family at centre of Tipperary parking dispute have more summons struck out
Two members of the family came before Judge Fiona Brennan at Nenagh District Court last week
A judge at Nenagh District Court has stuck out two more summons issued to members of a family in Roscrea for parking on double yellow lines outside their homes.
Riona Graham of Church View, Roscrea and her father Neil Heffernan, Abbey Street, Roscrea both received another summons each for parking on double yellow lines on Abbey Street, Roscrea on February 25, 2024.
Riona Graham told Judge Fiona Brennan that she and her father had been in court two weeks previously on summons from December 2023 and their cases had been struck out.
This was the second summons they had received for parking on double yellow lines outside their own homes.
Ms Graham told the court, there are five parking spaces for eight houses and so sometimes she has to wait for a space to become available.
She is a mother and an SNA who works from very early in the morning and her priority is getting her children into their house safely.
While she usually moves her car from the lines to an available space, sometimes she forgets or one does not become available by the time she goes to bed.
Ms Graham was acting for her father, Neil Heffernan who also received a summons.
She said since their last appearance before the court, Councillor Shane Lee had been in touch and they were trying to get the parking issues resolved with the council.
When asked by Judge Fiona Brennan, Ms Graham said this was the last summons she had received and there were no more before the court.
She had since her last appearance avoided parking on the double yellow lines.
Sergeant Regina McCarthy pointed out that Judge Adrian Harris had taken a “sympathetic view” at the last hearing and struck out the summons.
The guard who issued the summons said he does understand the issue but parking there does cause an obstruction.
“I take what they said and I agree with them,” said the guard.
Judge Brennan said she is familiar with the road and the parking issues.
“I hear what you are saying and I know that road and what’s on it.
“But you can’t add to the difficulties because of your difficulties,” said Judge Brennan.
However, she said she would also strike out both matters on the condition the defendants use legal parking spaces going forward.