Man fined for parking on footpath outside his shop in Tullamore

A man who parked on a footpath said it was outside his own shop, when he appeared at last week's district court.

Patrick Carroll, Tullaliskey, Mullingar, pleaded guilty to the offence which occured on October 18, 2023 on Main Street, Tullamore.

Mr Carroll who was representing himself in court said that the document he received in the post was ''the first he heard of it.''

He told Judge Andrew Cody he was having dry wall renovations carried out to his shop and he had brought bags of supplies into the store before having a brief discussion inside.

He said both he and his wife were prepared to swear on the bible in that regard.

Judge Cody asked why he hadn't paid the fine when he received it in the post but Mr Carroll replied that he was not prepared to pay €160 when he hadn't known about it earlier.

Judge Cody said there was no excuse for parking on a footpath as people with buggies and those in wheelchairs have to go out onto the road.

Mr Carroll said it wasn't on the footpath it was in the square. The footpath runs into the square, he said.

Judge Cody said Mr Carroll was either pleading guilty or he wasn't and fined him €250 with three months to pay.