The Great Naas Parking Scandal
Mayor Refused to Pay Parking Fine Because He Was On Council Business
By any reasonable standard, the wheels of justice don’t usually grind to a halt over a €40 parking fine — but this is rural Ireland, and the defendant was the Mayor of Naas in County Kildare.
Independent Councillor Seamie Moore, hero of the asphalt, took to Naas District Court to defend the most time-honoured tradition in Irish politics: parking exactly where you like so long as you’re doing something important. The charge? Overstaying his grace period while attending an “official function” at Naas Town Hall. The defence? Officialdom itself.
Cllr Moore said he does not believe he should have to pay the fine because he was working in an official capacity for the council at the time.
When asked if a member of the public would be expected to pay, he said “Yes” but that he should not have to because he was carrying out work for the council.
When asked if he would pay the charge, he said he will “refuse”, maintaining that it is “unjustifiable” given he was on official council business.
Moore wasn’t joyriding or illegally parking — he was at an award ceremony, shaking hands, smiling for photos, and accepting something shiny on behalf of Kildare County Council. A grateful citizenry, apparently, wanted their mayor presentable, not sprinting out mid-applause to feed a parking meter
When queried by KFM radio, Mayor Moore cheerfully admitted he’d been nine minutes over. Nine minutes! In political time, that’s roughly how long it takes to promise to end the homeless crisis. He also confessed that, yes, ordinary mortals would indeed be expected to pay such a fine — but he, a man on official duty, should be exempt. It’s not hypocrisy, you see. Its hierarchy, and rightly so, says you.
Council officials, sensing the makings of a precedent and that there’s one thing civil servants hate, it’s precedent — that dangerous contagion in local government — warned that if he didn’t cough up, everyone might start thinking they’re above the law. Mayor Moore called that bluff, refused to pay, and happily marched himself to court.
The Judicial gods of Naas District Court heard his plea. The case was dismissed. Mayor Moore emerged victorious, feeling “justified,” as though he’d struck a blow for local democracy, and mayors of minor towns up and down the country who have difficulty getting parking.
This story first appeared on KFM.
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