Kildare judge attacks county council for blocking his way to car park
The judge blamed Kildaer County Council and had to get help from An Garda Síochána
Kildare County Council came under fire for making it difficult for the sitting Kildare judge to use a parking space.
Judge Desmond Zaidan was nearing a number of cases taken by the council for breaches of litter and parking laws when he criticised the local authority.
He said the placing of a metal structure and sandbags at the Basin Street entrance to the premises caused the problem.
And he added he had to secure the assistance of the garda on court duty to help him safely manoeuvre his vehicle from the courthouse precincts to the street.
“It was blocking my access to the car,” he told a KCC representative who was in court to assist the processing of the cases being initiated by KCC.
He said the structure was blocking the way out and if he had reversed he could have crashed into it, adding that the tight surroundings of the court car park and the narrow exit make it difficult enough for anyone to drive out.
“I could crash," he said, adding that the KCC official should take a picture of the scene and bring it back to Aras Chill Dara.
“You guys are in charge of managing car parking in the county; this is embarrassing” he said.
Judge Zaidan added: “It’s not just me, it is blocking the Courts Service staff as well. It shouldn't be there.”
It is thought that the frame and sandbags, located in two places, are there because of road reconstruction work taking place in adjacent Abbey Street.
“It will cause accidents; it is dangerous for pedestrians.” He said this is because he has been momentarily forced onto a section of the footpath as he exited the location.
“The garda on duty at court helped me but he has better things to do,” added the judge.