This Takes The Ticket: Irish Traffic Warden Receives €20,000 In Damages After Man Bites Him

Popping out for a bite to eat this lunchtime? Do everyone a favour and tuck into a sandwich – not a traffic warden.

The Clare People reports that a traffic warden has been awarded €20,000 after he was the victim of a bizarre lunchtime attack that occurred back in July 2008.

Martin Ryan, a traffic warden from Ennis, was bitten in the chest by 70-year-old Marcus Kelly during an altercation over a ticket that was given to Mr Kelly’s disabled wife.

Assessing the damages in Mr Ryan’s case against Mr Kelly, Judge Tom O’Donnell said that the incident was “an appaling assault” and that “the level of violence was way over the top.”

The altercation happened when Mr Ryan gave a ticket to Mr Kelly

The traffic warden told the court that he had suffered from stress since the attack and that he feared for his own safety and the safety of his daughter.

“I just got a fear that something was going to happen,” said Mr Ryan.

Mr Kelly, the man who bit the traffic warden, did not attend the hearing because he was not contesting the claim for damages. Judge O’Donnell ruled that Mr Kelly pay €20,000 in general damages and €309 in special damages.

We’d like to think that this goes without saying but helpful life tip #235: never, ever, ever bite a traffic warden. You WILL end up in court.