Park & Pray scheme at Dublin church deters freeloaders

A Park & Pray scheme introduced at the Merrion Road Catholic church in Dublin appears to be working well, the parish priest has said.

Our Lady Queen of Peace church is across the road from St Vincent's hospital and sometimes the car park is full – but not with churchgoers.

Fr Fergus O’Connor recalled a predecessor speaking of an occasion when “a funeral was unable to gain access to the church because the car park was packed”.

Now the car park is monitored by National Controlled Parking Systems and to facilitate people "who just want to light a candle or say a prayer", a blue zone has been created where cars can be parked free for 45 minutes.

Fr O’Connor said he was “not happy such people had to take a chance” before. He recalled seeing an elderly woman with a walking frame standing in a state of shock with her elderly escort when they came out after saying their prayers “to find their car clamped” about two years ago.

Now, he said, there are signs indicating a reasonable number of spaces marked for Park & Pray visitors. Those who overstay the 45 minute limit are liable to be clamped and face a €120 release fee.