Dublin clampers have been directed to reimburse a driver for the cost of repairs after his vehicle sustained damage while being towed last year, reports The Mirror.
As you can imagine, social media had a field day, with one user saying all clampers are “thugs” and very aggressive in nature.
Oscar Adonis Marchat, who lives in Elton Park, Sandycove, Dublin, succeeded in a small claims case against Dublin Street Parking Services Ltd. He explained to Judge Peter White at Dublin District Court that he brought the civil case after his car was towed in the city on July 16 of last year.
He stated that he didn’t object to the towing itself and paid the fine, after which the clamp was removed. However, he informed the judge that the car displayed a “failure signal” and refused to start, reports The Mirror.
The judge asked if an anti-theft mechanism might have been activated, rendering the car immobile. Mr Marchat clarified that this wasn’t the case, and a mechanic found the steering column was damaged, “and that forced the car to shut down”.
Judge White was told that Mr Marchat incurred a €553 repair charge, which he asked the towing company to cover, reports The Mirror.
He claimed the firm replied by saying a private investigator had to be brought in and that someone would need to speak with him and his garage to assess the issue. Despite this, by the end of the summer, no one had contacted him to inspect the vehicle.
“I tried to follow up multiple times,” the motorist said. Finally, he said, the investigator had told him he had come off the case and to deal directly with the parking company again. I tried to follow up multiple times,” the motorist said. Finally, he said, the investigator had told him he had come off the case and to deal directly with the parking company again, reports The Mirror.
Mr Marchat paid for the repairs himself and submitted documentation from his garage, including a quote and an account of the damage.
As Dublin Street Parking Services Ltd did not enter a defence and based on the evidence presented, Judge White determined that the damage occurred during the towing process and awarded Mr Marchat the full cost of the repairs, reports The Mirror.
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