Disabled people must not suffer because of unscrupulous motorists
Issued : Monday 14 November, 2005
Areas : Dublin
Responding to comments made by the Dublin Director of Traffic Owen Keegan when he said because of widespread abuse of Disabled Parking permits the council may have to consider charging disabled people for car parking, Councillor Mary Freehill has said that disabled people should not suffer because of unscrupulous motorists.
Dublin City Councillor and former Lord Mayor Mary Freehill said: “I am concerned that the proposed changes in disabled parking arrangements could militate against the very people we are trying to help. Disabled people are not the abusers and therefore shouldn't have to suffer. Over many years I have been fighting for the rights of disabled people and I don't want to see the clock turned back.
“While we have to stop the abuse of disabled parking by unscrupulous able-bodied motorists, rather than charge disabled people for parking, it would be better to tighten the qualifying criteria by the City Council nominating a medical doctor to certify all applications which would make for greater consistency. To deal with the abuse by non-disabled, the Council should be given the powers to impose draconian fines for abuse of such a pass and the photograph of the disabled person should be on the side of the card which is displayed on the dashboard".
Councillor Mary Freehill worked for many years with the National Rehabilitation Board (NRB) and is an activist for disabled rights.
Cllr 
