Though he resisted the temptation when he heard there was a street in Athlone called Preaching Lane, Judge John Neilan didn’t hesitate to issue the maximum fine for illegal parking to a woman who failed to answer her summons this week (February 18 ).
The District Court in Athlone heard from a traffic warden how she had issued a parking ticket when she found the car of Laura Marie Filtness from 59, Lynn Heights, Mullingar parked on the pavement on said Preaching lane, off Court Devinish.
“Really?” said the judge with a wry smile.
“There’s a street in Athlone called Preaching Lane?”
“Yes, judge,” said Ms Reilly.
However, his demeanour changed when the judge discovered Ms Filtness hadn’t bothered to turn up to court to answer her summons for non-payment of the original €40 on-the-spot fine.
He fined her €500 and added an additional €250 costs for the day in court of the two members of Athlone Town Council’s traffic staff.
In Westmeath, the standard €40 parking fine is increased by 50 per cent to €60 if not paid within 28 days. This €60 fee can be paid right up to the day before court.
