A little compassion goes a long way

Sir, – Your recent report on clamping in Dublin included accounts of aggressive enforcement outside the National Maternity Hospital (“‘I was distraught’: Motorists share clamping stories as Dublin moves to new ‘tow and fine’ regime”, News, September 16th).

Recently I attended the National Maternity Hospital, where my appointment ran long and I topped up my parking every hour. I missed one top-up while with the doctor, paid again as soon as I came out (eight minutes past the grace period), but was clamped before I could get back to my car.

What stays with me is not the fee but the treatment. The operative walked away as I tried to explain and ignored my tearful pleas to wait a moment so I could pay and release the car immediately so I could collect my young children. Passersby stopped to comment on his behaviour. The interaction was so distressing I could not drive for half an hour once it was released.

Dublin City Council is changing its enforcement contractor on November 1st. A new contract on its own will not fix this. Rules should be clear for people attending hospital appointments, including grace periods and discretion for maternity patients, along with enforceable standards of conduct for operatives and a complaints process that is fair and quick. Outside a maternity hospital, a little compassion goes a long way. – Yours, etc,