AN ENNISKILLEN barber ran over a traffic warden’s foot as he attempted to move his car to avoid getting a ticket. 

Paul McGuigan (39) of Windmill Heights in the town appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court last Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to careless driving, following the incident on September 19th last year. 

At around 11.30am it was reported to police that a black Volkswagen Golf car had run over a traffic warden’s foot. The warden had refused medical attention afterwards and was not injured, but later said he’d a sore knee from when he tried to pull his foot out from under the wheel. 

Police learned McGuigan, who had called the police himself also, was the owner of he car and spoke to him. 

Defence solicitor Barry Lynam told the court cars were allowed to park on Forthill Street for up to an hour. He said McGuigan, a self-employed barber with a business on the street, had parked but had got tied up with work. 

When a neighbouring business owner came into to tell him the traffic warden was on the street, the defendant ran out to move his car. 

Mr Lynam, who stressed there’d been no injury to the warden, said McGuigan felt the warden had been “over zealous”, but accepted he probably shouldn’t have moved the car with the warden so close by. 

The solicitor added McGuigan’s licence was very important to him as the defendant, who had no previous convictions, worked as a road gritter in winter. 

District Judge Michael Ranaghan said it was unfortunate the incident had involved a public servant doing his job, but added he accepted McGuigan hadn’t ran over the warden’s foot on purpose, and accepted he’d acknowledged he shouldn’t have moved the car. 

Stating it was at the lower end of the careless driver charge, Judge Ranaghan endorsed three penalty points on McGuigan’s licence. 

He also fined him £250, stating he was doing so because the incident had involved a public servant.