Parking situation at Roscommon hospital 'a nightmare' with parking fines being issued on ‘daily basis’

The parking situation at Roscommon University Hospital is a “nightmare” with parking fines being issued daily, a special sitting of Roscommon District Court was told.

A member of staff at the hospital before the court over a parking fine appeared before Judge Vincent Deane, who was presiding over a two-week period of special sittings in the county.

The staff member admitted parking on a footpath on the morning of December 16th, 2024, but argued she had no choice as there was no parking available and she had to start work at 8.30 a.m.. She told the judge that there was no staff parking and that she had not parked on the footpath since.

“It’s a nightmare out there,” she said, adding that there were illegally parked cars at the hospital on the day of the court hearing. She previously told another court that she did not pay the fine as she felt she did not deserve to get penalised for going to work.

Garda Amanda Lynch of Roscommon Traffic Corps said that she had found the accused’s car parked “completely on the footpath” and issued a fine of €80, which was unpaid. She also explained that the reason why the traffic corps was carrying out patrols around the hospital was due to the numerous complaints from the public that elderly and disabled people were having issues accessing the hospital due to illegal parking. The court heard that there was parking to the rear of the hospital, outside Dr Hyde Park, and at other locations.

Responding to a question by Judge Deane, Garda Lynch said that tickets are being issued at the hospital daily.

Hearing the evidence, Judge Deane directed that the accused pay a €40 donation to Special Olympics Ireland, and he indicate he would strike the matter out.