The head of the Garda Traffic Corps in Donegal has said his officers are not taking part in “turkey shoots” to give out parking tickets to sports fans.
Inspector Michael Harrison was speaking after a number of Finn Harps fans received parking fines at Letterkenny District Court.
One solicitor claimed that his client had received a parking ticket on March 14th while numerous other cars around him had not.
“My client came out and it was a bit like a turkey shoot, he had been ticketed but other cars around him had not,” claimed the solicitor.
A number of other people also received parking tickets on the night on which Harps played Shamrock Rovers.
However, Inspector Harrison said An Garda Siochana do not take part in “turkey shoots” and were merely responding to complaints by local residents.
Indeed Inspector Harrison said he was a season-ticket holder at Finn Park and never had any trouble parking near the ground.
“I want to put it out there that we do not go on turkey shoots and we don’t go out to county finals giving out tickets. We respond to complaints from residents.
“On this occasion we received calls from residents at Navenney Street and Steeple View because cars were parked on the footpath,” he said.
Judge Paul Kelly fined a number of fans €80 for illegally parking on the night.
Among those fined on the day was a Finn Harps club official who was asked by Judge Kelly “Are you a Finn Harps supporter also?”, to which he responded he was!