For the birds!
Council fines kind-hearted pensioner for feeding feathered friends
LIMERICK City and County Council has been branded ‘draconian’ after it fined a pensioner for feeding birds in her estate.
Every day, Breda Moynihan, 70, from the Lee Estate in Limerick city, feeds the seagulls that regularly congregate on a green near her house.
However, she has been left ‘devastated’ and ‘disgusted’ after the council imposed a €150 fine.
The animal lover, who also gives carrots to horses and biscuits to cats in the estate, says she cannot afford the fine, which was imposed under the Litter Pollution Act 1997.
Ms Moynihan was given a form filled in by a council official that accused her of being responsible for ‘food thrown on a green area’.
The grandmother insists she won’t pay the fine, and is being supported by former councillor John Gilligan.
Mr Gilligan said the situation is ‘scandalous’, especially given the illegal dumping that is taking place across the estate.
He added that instead of fining her, the council should give her a mayoral reception. ‘They’re for the birds,’ he said. Ms Moynihan said: ‘I feed the birds every day. I love animals, and just feel like I’m doing good.
‘But this council man approached me and said I am causing rats, but rats have been around here all the time. The birds eat up the bread each day. I was devastated, I was disgusted. All I am doing is feeding a few animals.’
Mr Gilligan said: ‘Down through the years, we’ve been highlighting acts of unspeakable cruelty towards animals in Limerick. Here’s a woman who’s the total opposite of that. She’s our own Mary Poppins. And they come down and charge her €150. That’s her entire pension gone.’
He said he will contact council bosses to urge them to see sense
‘You know, these rules weren’t meant for people like her. She should be applauded, not persecuted. For God’s sake, do the right thing for Limerick and our estate, leave this lady alone,’ he said.
‘Breda feeds the seagulls, that bread is gone in seconds. She’s not dumping stews, or anything like that,’ he added.
Labour councillor Conor Sheehan, who represents the area at City Hall, said: ‘I just think it’s an absolutely, completely overthe-top, draconian response by the council.
‘I live in an area where people frequently dump bags of rubbish. I haven’t seen any of them landed with a fine.
‘It’s totally cruel. Whoever issued this fine would want to pull their head out of their backside and realise they can’t do this to elderly and vulnerable people. It’s a disproportionate response.’
The council declined to comment.
‘She should be applauded’