Tourist suing council for being told to park where mobile home wrecked

A HOLIDAYING family are to take legal action against Dublin City Council after their motorhome was ransacked while parked next to the Guinness brewery.

Israeli Effie Tkacz (40) is livid with the council after signs had directed him to park in an area close to St James Gate.

He claims that passers-by and a garda called the area "dangerous".

"Four people stopped to warn us not to park in that area. Even the policeman, who came eventually, told us it is considered a dangerous place.

"I can't describe the bad feeling that we felt after this experience. We decided to leave Dublin immediately."

Mr Tkacz is planning to sue after considerable damage was sustained and valuables stolen on August 26 in broad daylight.



"We found the side window broken, all of our personal belongings were scattered in the car and some stuff was stolen -- two portable DVD players and a GPS system.

"The hooligans took their time and vandalised the front windscreen, shattering it just for the fun. I would like to take legal action against the city council for their responsibility in recommending parking places that are known as not safe."

The motorhome was parked on Watling Street, next to the corner of James's Street and just a short walk from the Guinness Brewery.

Mr Tkacz believes that if the area is perceived to be unsafe then people should be warned, and not encouraged to park there. "We thought that Dublin would welcome tourists and do the maximum to protect them -- especially next to a world known attraction -- but it looks like the city council doesn't care at all and prefers to shift the responsibility to the police."

He was unimpressed by the response to the incident by the council after he had written a strongly worded letter.

He outlined the events and posed four questions to the council but got a terse reply.

"I am sorry to hear of your bad experience of your city," read the statement.

"We arrange parking facilities across the city, but all vehicles are parked at the owner's risk. Cars are parked at the owner's risk, even in legal parking areas."

Conor Faughan, of AA Roadwatch, said: "There are approximately 13,000 incidents of theft from motor vehicles annually. Of these, 50pc occur in the Dublin area which has 33pc of the cars -- so the risk rate within Dublin is obviously higher."

Tourist suing council for being told to park where mobile home wrecked - City News, National News - Herald.ie