Student parked in Portlaoise disabled bay

A student admitted possession of cannabis and parking in a disabled space in Portlaoise. 

Taemour Basharat, 20, of 8 Lake Avenue, Kilminchy, Portlaoise parked in a disabled bay on Main Street, Portlaoise on September 18, 2022. He admitted having €50 worth of cannabis on the Dublin Road on July 3, 2022. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the man was cooperative when stopped and found with the drugs. 

Gardai caught him parked in the disabled bay at 6.01pm on Main Street, Portlaoise on September 18. 

“I was just parking there two minutes to get food,” the defendant told gardai at the time. 

Sgt Kirby said the man has seven previous convictions. 

Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client is a student of computer science in Carlow. He said the man was “dabling” for a short period in cannabis but no longer uses the drug. 

In relation to parking in a disabled bay, he said the man had ordered food and there were no spaces available for collecting it. 

He said the man is “very much ashamed” and realises “how selfish it was and lazy”, said Mr Meagher. 

Judge Andrew Cody fined the man €300 for parking in a disabled bay, €100 for possession of cannabis and he fixed recognisance in case of appeal.