Serial Offender Sees Red For Assaulting Warden

A motorist from Balbriggan in Ireland has been sentenced to two months in prison for assaulting an APCOA traffic warden.

James McDonagh, 22, from the large Irish town in north Fingal, pleaded guilty at Swords District Court in December (2014), after the Court heard that he had used threatening and abusive behaviour towards warden Peter Mirolo. 

Mr. McDonagh, who had been charged with a string of public violations prior to the parking altercation, erupted after he received a ticket in May 2014 for parking in a loading bay in Drogheda Street.

Judge Dermot Dempsey charged Mr. McDonagh under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994, which reinforced the severity of the driver’s overreaction.

A spokesperson for APCOA Parking Ireland said: “We take a zero-tolerance against anyone who feels it is appropriate or amusing to abuse one of our officers”

“We are pleased that, following the Gardai’s investigations, Mr. McDonagh has experienced the full force of the law.  Hopefully it sends out a strong message to make others think twice before they commit a mindless act.   The welfare of our staff remains of paramount importance.”    

About APCOA

APCOA PARKING was established in Ireland in 1998 as a parking management company.  Together with its UK counterpart, APCOA’s UK and Ireland businesses currently employ 2,200 staff, and a further 2,500 staff across 10 other European countries. 

To date, APCOA PARKING Group is the largest full-service parking management company in Europe, providing a wide range of on and off-street services on behalf of local authorities, and clients at airports, rail stations, shopping centres, town and city centres, hotels, hospitals and universities.

For more information about APCOA PARKING Ireland, please go to: www.apcoa.ie.