Mayor doesn't understand what a disabled parking space is for.

A2LUE42

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/limerick-mayors-car-spotted-in-disabled-parking-space-657935.html



Mayor Sheahan, who is not in receipt of a disabled parking card, apologised, but also told the Limerick Leader: "I do think it is a bit harsh that someone had nothing better to do than take a photograph of my car."

They did have something better to do. They wanted to park there, but some self entitled idiot was already parked illegally in the space.

Iranoutofideas

It seems that public displays of idiocy are the single notable consistency when it comes to holding the office of Mayor of Limerick

Wise Old Elf

I think he actually came out with the usual "I was only there for a few minutes" line as well. Not even a proper apology. What a dopey pr1ck.

Dr.Teeth

Like the one about putting up Polish on the street signs, whats wrong with the other 20 odd languages of the EU!

Limerick will have the best street signs EVER.

A2LUE42

Dr.Teeth wrote: »

Like the one about putting up Polish on the street signs, whats wrong with the other 20 odd languages of the EU!

Limerick will have the best street signs EVER.

Or getting in a drunken row with some dancers.

phog

He's a disgrace, not alone did he park illegally but then went on to complain about being reported.

Brass neck.

myshirt

There is no defence here, it is appalling behaviour, it's just not excusable.

Maybe there is a bit of an opportunistic element to it on the part of the photographer. Maybe there isn't. We don't know. So give them the benefit of the doubt here.
It is insulting to say anything less than the person had the correct intentions; sher the man was parked in a disabled space!

No way a pot shot at the man, as he is an able chap otherwise and does put in the work. But this is below expected standards, for f#ck sake, will he just put his hands up and admit it, take the wrap on the knuckles and offer a genuine apolog. He should make a donation to charity, and also give time to meeting with some disabled persons so he can understand how appalling what he done is.

Because it is appalling lads, attitudes need to change here. Try live with a disability and go about your business, only to see this man parked up, preventing you from exercising your independence which is already compromised for a start.

puntosporting

Did he get a ticket?

bmm

This is the caliber of individual we elect to represent us! The electorate should spend a bit more time researching the candidates before voting for people who are quite clearly ignorant and arrogant.
This should be a resigning matter/ sack-able offence.

alan partridge aha

Fine looking car that Volvo

myshirt

alan partridge aha wrote: »

Fine looking car that Volvo

I would have thought a man like you drove a Lexus?

alan partridge aha

myshirt wrote: »

I would have thought a man like you drove a Lexus?

I've hit on hard times and now driving Rover 800 again.

myshirt

alan partridge aha wrote: »

I've hit on hard times and now driving Rover 800 again.

Don't worry, you'll bounce back.

Busted Flat.

It's his sense of entitlement, he belongs to FG.

steveon

A complete disgrace, there is already a lack of spaces in this city for disabled people. A few weeks back the same idiot was in the paper with maria byrne showing off on the coca cola bike scheme and now he does this..

OUT OUT out shouldn't be allowed wear the chains if that's is his attitude, a min in a disabled bay is too long there is no excuse unless you are picking up an elderly person who may not have a card but finds it hard to walk and they are there waiting ..

Greenmachine

Amazing that the number plate needs to be blurred out.

myshirt

Greenmachine wrote: »

Amazing that the number plate needs to be blurred out.

Yeah, who is going to clone that car. I dunno who this guy thinks he is. Sher the other day he drives down the dock road and goes into Centra. Is he going to buy any petrol? Nope. He's just using the forecourt to turn around. That's the calibre of man. He must think he's Rod Stewart the way he's carrying on.

893bet

myshirt wrote: »

Sher the other day he drives down the dock road and goes into Centra. Is he going to buy any petrol? Nope. He's just using the forecourt to turn around. That's the calibre of man. He must think he's Rod Stewart the way he's carrying on.

Not sure if serious? How is dare he drive in and out again. Hang him at noon.

Red Silurian

myshirt wrote: »

Yeah, who is going to clone that car. I dunno who this guy thinks he is. Sher the other day he drives down the dock road and goes into Centra. Is he going to buy any petrol? Nope. He's just using the forecourt to turn around. That's the calibre of man. He must think he's Rod Stewart the way he's carrying on.

I think he is referring to the fact that his registration plate would be fairly well known as the mayor car

jonski

myshirt wrote: »

He should make a donation to charity, and also give time to meeting with some disabled persons so he can understand how appalling what he done is.

I am open to correction here but does the man not have a disabled son ?

MarkR

jonski wrote: »

I am open to correction here but does the man not have a disabled son ?

From the article

Mayor Sheahan, who is not in receipt of a disabled parking card, apologised, but also told the Limerick Leader: "I do think it is a bit harsh that someone had nothing better to do than take a photograph of my car."

Even if he does have a son with a disability, was the son in work with him?

jonski

MarkR wrote:

Even if he does have a son with a disability, was the son in work with him?

The point was making was in relation to what I quoted .

MarkR

jonski wrote: »

The point was making was in relation to what I quoted .

Sorry, hadn't spotted that. I was going to say, "He should know better, so!", but he should know better anyway!

phog

Perhaps these signs should be used at disabled parking bays.

Berty

Try the disabled space outside of ulster bank in town. Good luck getting a Volvo in there. Coucil gave that space to those bikes. Blue paint and some of the disabled logo still there. Looks stupid.

myshirt

Beer Baron wrote: »

Try the disabled space outside of ulster bank in town. Good luck getting a Volvo in there. Coucil gave that space to those bikes. Blue paint and some of the disabled logo still there. Looks stupid.

Yeah... particularly harsh one considering Ulster Bank are the only bank with face to face customer contact at front desk. A feature used mostly by those who need assistance, including older folk who like to bank that way.

Where can they park now?

brownej

He was on morning Ireland this morning at about 10 to 8.
Thankfully Fran cut him short to stop him making an even bigger tit of himself.

He kept "holding his hands up" and "apologising to anyone and everyone in society" followed quickly by "I was only a minute". He then went on to refer to the "alleged photograph" and that its all political and they're out to get him.

http://www.rte.ie/radio/utils/radioplayer/rteradioweb.html#!rii=9%3A10362603%3A0%3A%3A
51 mins to 54:30

alan partridge aha

Thought he spoke ok, you are always on a loser with this one. Perhaps he has a point in that it may have been politically motivated rather than genuine.

brownej

alan partridge aha wrote: »

Thought he spoke ok, you are always on a loser with this one. Perhaps he has a point in that it may have been politically motivated rather than genuine.

Not genuine would be someone else putting his car in the parking space and sending in a picture.
Him doing it and some opportunist sending in a picture is still genuine.

Anyone sending in the picture would have some sort of axe to grind, whether it be a political opponenet, disabled passerby who recognised the mayor, Joe soap sick of the sense of entitlement from polititians, person in the council office sick of him doing this (allegedly(maybe)) etc etc.

Special Circumstances

Alleged photograph? That a real quote? Oh dear...

alan partridge aha

Not genuine in that the person who posted the pic might not be disabled.

brownej

alan partridge aha wrote: »

Not genuine in that the person who posted the pic might not be disabled.

Is it only diabled people that can observe this sort of behaviour.
If a disabled person didn't see it then it didn't happen?

brownej

Special Circumstances wrote: »

Alleged photograph? That a real quote? Oh dear...

In his defense he was getting a little carried away and probably articulated his point a little clumsily.

alan partridge aha

brownej wrote: »

Is it only diabled people that can observe this sort of behaviour.
If a disabled person didn't see it then it didn't happen?

No, but that is what the article said.
The car was seen by a female wheelchair user, who reported the offence.

The woman, who did not want to be identified, also contacted Limerick Anti-Austerity Alliance Councillor Cian Prendiville, and stated: "I recently visited county hall to pay monies to cash office.

"I am wheelchair-bound and was horrified to see the wheelchair parking bay occupied by a car.

"The car did not have any disability sticker and on making enquiries I learnt the car was belonging to the head of [Limerick] Council Mayor Sheahan."

alan partridge aha

The man said he wanted to apologise to the person, but she is anonymous so he can't.

Busted Flat.

alan partridge aha wrote: »

The man said he wanted to apologise to the person, but she is anonymous so he can't.

To make out he wanted to apologize to the person who took the picture, he should apologize to all blue card holders for his selfish actions.

phog

myshirt wrote: »

Yeah... particularly harsh one considering Ulster Bank are the only bank with face to face customer contact at front desk. A feature used mostly by those who need assistance, including older folk who like to bank that way.

Where can they park now?

AFAIK, a disabled driver can park in any parking spot without the need to use parking discs.

pigtown

On morning Ireland he said that he needed to run into the office for a short period and that there were a few disabled parking spots free so he parked in one. When he came out again the other spaces were still free so no-one was inconvenienced.

I know it's fashionable to criticize everything a politician says or does, and to always assume they are lying, but is it possible he was telling the truth?

Did this story really warrant articles in the Examiner and Breakingnews, and an interview on morning Ireland?

Is it possible that he regularly parks in this carpark and notices that the disabled spaces are rarely used ?(speculation on my part, don't know how used these spots are). I know that in the carpark on the North Campus of UL, near the Pavilion, there are about 10 disabled parking spots and in the 3 years I used that carpark there were never more than 4 spaces being used.

myshirt

Pigtown, please do not insult people. This man is going around behaving as though he is Rod Stewart or something. This was a legitimate complaint, not one that is just fashionable. I was only a minute just doesn't cut it. This is 2015, not 1965. It is not acceptable.

pigtown

Who did my questions insult?

893bet

pigtown wrote: »

On morning Ireland he said that he needed to run into the office for a short period and that there were a few disabled parking spots free so he parked in one. When he came out again the other spaces were still free so no-one was inconvenienced.

I know it's fashionable to criticize everything a politician says or does, and to always assume they are lying, but is it possible he was telling the truth?

Did this story really warrant articles in the Examiner and Breakingnews, and an interview on morning Ireland?

Is it possible that he regularly parks in this carpark and notices that the disabled spaces are rarely used ?(speculation on my part, don't know how used these spots are). I know that in the carpark on the North Campus of UL, near the Pavilion, there are about 10 disabled parking spots and in the 3 years I used that carpark there were never more than 4 spaces being used.

Sorry Pigtown, balanced and well thought out posts are not allowed.

vkid

Not sure there is any defence for this. Other vacant spaces or the length of time he was there for are completely irrelevant. Those excuses would not wash if it is was me or anyone else... And it is no different for any local politician..

The hard done by, out to get me schtick is nauseating..

myshirt

Apologies lads, but the attitude is appalling. Not well balanced and thought out. If I had a few pints and drove like a f#cking lunatic down the backroads and said sher it's grand, everyone was in bed, no one was around, that doesn't make it right.

Thank F#CK no one was put out by this. That should be the response lads, not this lax attitude.
In the same way, thank f#ck no one was on the road when I was drink driving. Not ah sher it's grand.

No. No. No. The principle must remain the same. The behaviour 100% remains utterly, utterly abhorrent.

Culturally we have an awful problem in this country towards disabled drivers. It's not on anymore lads. The days are gone where a set of working double dashers entitles you to park anywhere.

myshirt

phog wrote: »

AFAIK, a disabled driver can park in any parking spot without the need to use parking discs.

Correct, but parking up there isn't great. Where the bikes are now was a good spot and I am led to believe it was well utilised by customers of Ulster bank who like that bit of old style banking approach; the face to face banking.

Now to be fair, the lads in AIB are great to assist their customers, but some people just don't like this Richie Boucher Ryanair influenced 'make the customer do the work' approach that AIB adopted after boi.

flutered

alan partridge aha wrote: »

The man said he wanted to apologise to the person, but she is anonymous so he can't.

on other fourms it is being alleged that he is been stitched up, claims are being made as to the authentcy of the whistleblower, why should the whistleblower become public to be hounded by the press and politicos

flutered

in a lot of towns/citys the mayor has a spot reserved

brownej

flutered wrote: »

on other fourms it is being alleged that he is been stitched up, claims are being made as to the authentcy of the whistleblower, why should the whistleblower become public to be hounded by the press and politicos

It would only be a stitch up if someone else parked his car in the space.
I don't think anyone is disputing that he actually did it. What seems to be at issue is that you can only point it out if you are disabled which is ridiculous.

The more he plays the victim of a stitch up the longer it will stay in the news cycle.

jonski

Did he park in a disabled spot ?
Yes

Does it matter if the other disabled spots were vacant ?
No

Should he apologise ?
Yes

Does it matter if he is being stitched up ?
No .... he still parked in a disabled spot

Is it worse that it was the Mayor that did this ?
Yes , of course it does , he is supposed to set an example .

But shur he is only human .... well we should expect and demand more from our elected officials .

brownej

alan partridge aha wrote: »

No, but that is what the article said.
The car was seen by a female wheelchair user, who reported the offence.

The woman, who did not want to be identified, also contacted Limerick Anti-Austerity Alliance Councillor Cian Prendiville, and stated: "I recently visited county hall to pay monies to cash office.

"I am wheelchair-bound and was horrified to see the wheelchair parking bay occupied by a car.

"The car did not have any disability sticker and on making enquiries I learnt the car was belonging to the head of [Limerick] Council Mayor Sheahan."

Why are you quoting the article to me when it is you that is disputing whether the photographer was genuinely disabled?

alan partridge aha wrote: »

Not genuine in that the person who posted the pic might not be disabled.

seventeen sheep

A2LUE42 wrote: »

Mayor Sheahan, who is not in receipt of a disabled parking card, apologised, but also told the Limerick Leader: "I do think it is a bit harsh that someone had nothing better to do than take a photograph of my car."

We could all walk by situations without intervening every day of our lives.

"I have better things to do than to say thank you to the check-out person."

"I have better things to do than to help that blind woman cross the road."

"I have better things to do than to phone an ambulance while that man is dying of a heart attack."

Of all people, the mayor is the person you would hope would step in and rectify a situation, rather than scorning those who choose to draw attention to an injustice rather than doing the easy thing and walking on by.

brownej wrote: »

He kept "holding his hands up" and "apologising to anyone and everyone in society" followed quickly by "I was only a minute". He then went on to refer to the "alleged photograph" and that its all political and they're out to get him.

Oh for gods sake. It's not an "alleged photograph". It is a photograph, or it isn't. He has admitted to the offence, so it's a moot point anyways.

The only one concerned about "politics" here seems to be him.

alan partridge aha wrote: »

Perhaps he has a point in that it may have been politically motivated rather than genuine.

No, no, no. He committed the offence! Perhaps the person who reported it was politically motivated; perhaps they weren't; it's completely irrelevant. There would have been nothing to report if he hadn't done it.

alan partridge aha wrote: »

The man said he wanted to apologise to the person, but she is anonymous so he can't.

I find this offensive. It's been reported that the person who reported this was in a wheelchair - that doesn't even necessarily imply that she was in need of the space. As someone who is not disabled, and who does not have any disabled family members, and who has no political inclination, I'd be p*ssed off and offended on behalf of society if I'd seen him park in that space, and yeah I'd have reported it. That doesn't mean I want a smoochy apology to me or to society as a whole or to the disabled members of society. It means that I want him to be penalised appropriately and that I want him to state publicly that he won't commit such an offence again.

pigtown wrote: »

On morning Ireland he said that he needed to run into the office for a short period and that there were a few disabled parking spots free so he parked in one. When he came out again the other spaces were still free so no-one was inconvenienced.

I know it's fashionable to criticize everything a politician says or does, and to always assume they are lying, but is it possible he was telling the truth?

Did this story really warrant articles in the Examiner and Breakingnews, and an interview on morning Ireland?

Is it possible that he regularly parks in this carpark and notices that the disabled spaces are rarely used ?(speculation on my part, don't know how used these spots are). I know that in the carpark on the North Campus of UL, near the Pavilion, there are about 10 disabled parking spots and in the 3 years I used that carpark there were never more than 4 spaces being used.

So what if the spaces were free when he went in and came out? How does he know that they didn't fill up (and empty again) while he was in there? It might be out of the norm for that car park, but it could have happened.

If the car park was that quiet, why didn't he park a few spaces down? Because all of the spaces were full? "OK so it doesn't matter if I take up just one of these disabled spaces, and after all, they're hardly ever used."

Next car comes along. All spaces are full. "But look, there's a car there parked in the disabled space with no disk. Oh and it's the mayor's car. Well, if he can do it, I guess the rest of us can ..."

It was an awful thing to do, but the fact that he seems to be trying to defend his actions makes it all the worse and more cynical and saddening.

brownej

seventeen sheep wrote: »

Oh for gods sake. It's not an "alleged photograph". It is a photograph, or it isn't. He has admitted to the offence, so it's a moot point anyways.

I was just quoting him from his morning Ireland interview. I shouted the same thing at the radio!
In his defence he got a bit flustered.