The Mayor of Limerick has criticised a wheelchair-bound woman who reported his car was parked in a disabled parking space outside Limerick City and County Council today. Councillor Kevin Sheahan apologised for parking in the space, but also took the opportunity to criticise the woman for drawing the media’s attention to the incident. “I do think it is a bit harsh that someone had nothing better to do than take a photograph of my car,” the mayor said.
The woman who highlighted the misuse of the parking space has asked for anonymity but told Socialist Councillor Cian Prendiville that she is a wheelchair user. The woman had gone to the council to make a payment and might be rightly annoyed to see the mayor’s car parked in a spot designated for wheelchair users like herself.
Cllr. Sheahan made a point of saying his car was not parked illegally but Cllr. Prendiville called the incident an ‘abuse of privilege’ and criticised the mayor’s less than wholehearted apology. “He should acknowledge that he is completely in the wrong, and the disabled person who spoke up and reported this is completely in the right – it is as simple as that,” the councillor said.