Buncrana motorist caught twice for the same parking offence in less than 24 hours

A Buncrana man has been fined after being caught twice in as many days for failing to display a valid parking ticket in separate incidents in the town centre.

The case of Luke Lyons, of 7 Ard Na Greine, Buncrana, came before Buncrana District Court and involved two summonses relating to separate parking offences on consecutive days.

The prosecution was brought by Donegal County Council and Mr Lyons did not attend court. Judge Emile Daly directed that the case proceed in his absence after DCC solicitor Kevin McElhinney confirmed that the defendant had personally signed for the summonses.

A traffic warden gave evidence outlining the two incidents. The court heard that the first offence occurred on Friday, September 5, 2025, at Church Street, Buncrana.

At approximately 11.16am that morning, the warden observed a 2015-registered vehicle parked in a public space without a valid pay-and-display ticket or evidence of electronic parking payment.

A fixed charge penalty notice was issued later that afternoon at 1.11pm and placed under the vehicle’s windscreen wipers, with photographs taken for evidential purposes. The court heard the fine was not paid.

The second incident occurred the very next day, Saturday, September 6, 2025, when the same vehicle was again observed in Buncrana, this time on Upper Main Street at 9.37am.

The warden noted that once again, there was no valid parking ticket displayed, and no electronic payment had been made.

Approximately one hour later, a further fixed charge penalty notice was issued and placed on the vehicle, with photographic evidence again obtained. This penalty also remained unpaid.

The court heard that the offences represented two separate breaches of parking regulations occurring on consecutive days.

Having considered the evidence, Judge Daly imposed a fine of €120 and allowed four months for payment. She also ordered Mr Lyons to pay €138 in legal costs to Donegal County Council.