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Moral objection or no time: Majority of GPs say they can't provide abortion services

Legislation on the provision of abortion has been debated by the Oireachtas health committee this week.

A SURVEY BY an organisation representing GPs in Ireland has found that the majority of GPs are not in a position to provide abortions due to limited resources or conscientious objections, among other issues.

In an online survey with over 3,500 members of the Irish College of General Practitioners, 32% said they will provide termination-of-pregnancy services.

The largest number, 43%, responded to say that they weren’t in position at this time to provide the services “due to concerns regarding capacity, resources or conscientious objection, but are willing to refer to another colleague”.

The final cohort indicates that they would not provide service and would prefer not to refer to a colleague: this was 25% of the ICGP membership.

The ICGP, the professional and training body for Irish GPs, said that no GPs should be required to provide termination-of-pregnancy services if they did not wish to.

The results were part of an online consultation aimed at guiding the development of clinical guidelines for the provision of abortion services. The online consultation process was carried out during August and September; there was a 26% participation rate in the online consultation process.

Legislation on the provision of abortion has been debated in front of the Oireachtas committee this week, where a number of amendments were suggested and discussed.

An amendment to make the burial or cremation of foetal remains mandatory was voted down; another suggestion was made to change the name of the bill from “The Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy” to “Access to Healthcare by Women Seeking Termination of Pregnancy”.

It’s expected that abortion services will be available from next year, once the legislation has been passed by the Dáil and health services have had time to prepare.

“Of those who do not wish to provide a service, resourcing and workload is a major concern,” said Dr Tony Cox, medical director of the ICGP.

Our feedback shows that there is genuine worry that the promised rapid access to ultrasound scans and hospital care, will not be delivered.

“The findings also demonstrate that there is a cohort of GPs who will not opt to provide services due to concerns related to conscientious objection.”

“Both in the development of guidelines and in advocating for the necessary resources the
College’s primary concern is patient safety and quality of care,” Cox said.

The ICGP will hold an EGM on 2 December to discuss GPs providing abortion services.

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49 Comments
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    Mute Chris Massey
    Favourite Chris Massey
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    Feb 4th 2013, 10:14 PM

    Can’t stand clampers, ignorant assh@les!

    494
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    Mute Regonald Timpson
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    Feb 4th 2013, 10:22 PM

    Fianna Fail introduced clamping in 1998 in Dublin. At least that’s what the facts state.

    128
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    Mute Stephen McMahon
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    Feb 4th 2013, 10:36 PM

    Ah here, leave it out

    71
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    Mute Bronagh Moore
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    Feb 4th 2013, 10:46 PM

    Just park legally and clampers are a non issue.

    368
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    Mute Paul Condon
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    Feb 4th 2013, 11:09 PM

    Not necessarily. I know someone that got done while she was at the meter getting a ticket. Where I work down the quays I’ve often seen the NCPS wait in their van and count down the minutes before they get the chains out.
    They’re a total scourge on the city.

    336
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    Mute CABK
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    Feb 4th 2013, 11:24 PM

    @Paul this definitely seems to be true. I’ve only been clamped once, I was sick and driving through Ballsbridge, thought I was going to throw up and had to park quickly and leg it to a pub bathroom. I had no change to pay for the meter and no choice as I was going to get sick so had to leave the car. I was gone no longer than 15 minutes – when I came back the guy was filling in the form to put on my windscreen – he hadn’t even finished the whole thing properly. I tried to explain and was pretty much in tears as I felt so awful anyway but he refused to listen and said it was too late. No compassion whatsoever and he must’ve been waiting nearby.

    109
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    Mute Abi Dennis
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    Feb 4th 2013, 11:30 PM

    My dad parked in town, some area were its now a case you have to sign up for an account, which he didnt have, so he went looking for a machine he could pay with, found one, paid and in the mean time was clamped.

    Another time in bray, came back to his car five mins before ticket expired and had a parking ticket with no time printed on it.

    Another friend of mine broke her key in the door, phone, money everything was locked in car. Finally managed to get a hold of a locksmith, was clamped, rang up to explain what happened still got clamped.

    Few years ago, Step mothers road was full, parked nearby, she came out to see her car being clamped, 8 months pregnant and had to pick up her kid from playschool, offered to pay on the spot so theyd remove, no sympathy and clamped.

    Ucd, somebody blocking in another car, logical thing would be to tow car, nope clamped car blocking in other car so person stuck in because some inconsiderate ass blocked them in and got clamped.

    Parking awful in ucd (can take half an hr to get parking in a ditch miles away), private ambulence parked outside health centre illegaly but not obstructing anybody and they were clamped.

    A space beside mater clinic used to be free near my old house, made it pay and display one day and clamped another private ambulence.

    Clampers are asses.

    170
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    Mute Continent Simian
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    Feb 4th 2013, 11:45 PM

    You should have pointed him towards the “No parking at any time, unless vomiting” sign.

    62
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    Mute Maeve Kelly
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    Feb 5th 2013, 4:04 AM

    And one time at band camp….

    68
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    Mute Floodzie
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    Feb 5th 2013, 6:33 AM

    Surely it would be cheaper, from an administration point of view, to just give someone a ticket (it works for expired insurance, tax etc).

    Why the need for the public humiliation of a clamping??

    28
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    Mute Susiedee
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    Feb 5th 2013, 9:52 AM

    Shouldn’t that be, one time at band clamp?

    15
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    Mute mister
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    Feb 4th 2013, 10:26 PM

    It must take a very nasty and mean-spirited person to be a clamper. I know there are people whose parking behaviour (in disabled spaces etc) deserves a harsh response. In general these guys only cause misery and I’ve witnessed that first-hand with elderly people in particular on hospital visits whose tickets had expired. As a job, it is the lowest of the low and I don’t give a sh1te how many red thumbs I get (PS. I’ve never been clamped so this is not sour grapes!)

    403
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    Mute Marina Reilly
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    Feb 4th 2013, 11:05 PM

    Or someone who would rather be a clamper than be on the dole?

    80
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    Mute Marina Reilly
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    Feb 4th 2013, 11:15 PM

    As an aside, I had to fork out 120 quid this morning to get a clamp off. I don’t think the person who clamped me was evil or mean spirited. I think they were doing their job

    100
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    Mute Nuffsaid Thatsall
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    Feb 4th 2013, 10:32 PM

    Loved the ‘Directed by Mark Kelly’ credit at the end!! No doubt Spielberg’s shittin’ himself at the moment!!

    228
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    Mute Con O'sullivan
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    Feb 4th 2013, 10:19 PM

    He needed more crab juice.

    205
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    Mute Briain O'Dochartaigh
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    Feb 4th 2013, 10:57 PM

    Kalkalash!!

    146
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    Mute Gabhán de Brí
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    Feb 4th 2013, 11:45 PM

    No bowl! Stick stick!

    54
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    Mute Jonathan McDade
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    Feb 5th 2013, 12:13 AM

    Mountain Dew or Crab Juice?

    32
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    Mute youdontknowme
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    Feb 5th 2013, 12:19 AM

    Ewwwww, ill take the crab juice

    40
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    Mute Dónal O'Flynn
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    Feb 5th 2013, 1:39 AM

    Having reached the observation deck of the first tower of the World Trade Center (before its sad demise): Toilet out of order, please use other tower! D’oh!

    29
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    Mute youdontknowme
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    Feb 5th 2013, 2:10 AM

    Sadly this was one of the best episodes. They have moments of comic genious.

    Anyone see the one where they revisit new york :) kalkalash guy has huge resturant but the only sell kalkalash

    24
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    Mute Brendan Oconnor
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    Feb 5th 2013, 3:22 AM

    Hahaha.

    3
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    Mute Bob Thebuildr
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    Feb 5th 2013, 4:21 AM

    A tin of black spray to break the continuous yellow lines between your two parking wheels. Only has to be a couple of inches and the clampers can do nothing. Bobs your uncle…..
    ps. Do it discretely

    25
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    Mute Mark Clarke
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    Feb 4th 2013, 10:35 PM

    And it just gets better and better. Can’t wait till I see Peter Griffin fight a big chicken on O Connell St.

    118
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    Mute Kathleen Charlonis
    Favourite Kathleen Charlonis
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    Feb 4th 2013, 10:50 PM

    I only hope someone is there to catch it on video

    24
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    Mute Liz (10) (^_^)
    Favourite Liz (10) (^_^)
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    Feb 5th 2013, 5:23 AM

    Someone should so do that for the craic ^_^

    3
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    Mute Westmeath
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    Feb 4th 2013, 10:27 PM

    No sympathy for the driver that will teach them not to park illegally.

    102
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    Mute Boy Russell
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    Feb 4th 2013, 10:43 PM

    And when clamping eventually gets to @Westmeath you won’t be so sure.. You ever been to the big smoke?

    102
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    Mute Liz (10) (^_^)
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    Feb 5th 2013, 5:22 AM

    It’s in Galway and it’s a pain in the rectum.

    9
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    Mute John Kenny
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    Feb 4th 2013, 10:41 PM

    All you need to do is let some air out of the tires and slip the clamp off put on your spare and away you go

    97
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    Mute Kathleen Charlonis
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    Feb 4th 2013, 10:51 PM

    Does that really work?

    32
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    Mute niall gallagher
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    Feb 4th 2013, 11:10 PM

    Interesting

    19
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    Mute BcuTCM0P
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    Feb 4th 2013, 11:23 PM

    No it doesn’t because the chain is looped around a part of the suspension that moves up and down with it. can’t remember the name of it, ‘wishbone’ maybe?

    17
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    Mute dowthebow
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    Feb 4th 2013, 11:37 PM

    Wishbone exactly, just letting air out works on council clamps as they are fitted tightly to the wheel, but the air valve is often not accessible with this type. Also it is still possible to receive a fine with this type as it is a penalty for parking incorrectly, much like a ticket.
    To remove the most common type, theNCPS ones with the chain, you have to release the wishbone at the ball joint using a ball joint seperator, takes about half hour in total if you know what you’re doing, and once you return the clamp undamaged there is no penalty as the penalty is a release fee, but you’ve released the clamp yourself.
    Just call me “The Clampbuster”…

    79
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    Mute Paula Kelly
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    Feb 5th 2013, 12:15 AM

    In Galway it’s something in excess of 500 quid fine if there is evidence of tampering with the clamp. They don’t have adequate signage either and I’m fairly sure one of the neighbours was being paid to report new arrivals, as one time when someone was trying to remove a clamp the guards arrived before the clamper.

    25
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    Mute Liz (10) (^_^)
    Favourite Liz (10) (^_^)
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    Feb 5th 2013, 5:25 AM

    And y’know what’s annoying about that, the big sign to inform you of such put on the side window of the car with super sticky tape that ruins the car window

    18
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    Mute Rob O'Byrne
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    Feb 4th 2013, 10:13 PM

    Doh!

    81
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    Mute john murphy
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    Feb 5th 2013, 11:06 AM

    A private company can’t fine a citizen it gos against our human rights

    3
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    Mute Stephen Byrne
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    Feb 4th 2013, 10:16 PM

    Its the “you won’t get far with that” at the end that made it for me.

    71
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    Mute Jim Nephin
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    Feb 4th 2013, 11:45 PM

    Just carry a bolt cutter or rechargeable grinder in your boot f**k the clampers.

    67
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    Mute Derek J Mc Greevy
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    Feb 5th 2013, 1:15 AM

    i once parked in a space that was desagnated for parents with kids in a cork shopping centre as i was picking up my wife and kids when i came back to the car it was clamped i rang the company and they wanted immedate payment to get released when i explained the situation they said i would have to pay first and then appeal ……to make a long story short i succesfully sued the clamping company i donated the money to a worthy cause it was on princable that i took this action …. they cant go around willy nilly and clamp as they wish ……a lesson learned to the guys who clamped me

    66
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    Mute Maurice Powell
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    Feb 4th 2013, 10:50 PM

    Before we had clampers, people parked anywhere for as long as they felt like it, without any regard for other road users. Now, you can nearly always get a parking space ( in Dublin anyway, because that is where I need to park frequently). I, for one, am grateful for the work of authorised clampers.

    61
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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Feb 4th 2013, 11:40 PM

    If clamping worked the campers wouldn’t be making millions every year.
    People do park much more responsible these days but the campers look for victims, it’s got nothing to do with traffic flow or parking it’s a pure money racket

    59
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    Mute Ray Toomey
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    Feb 4th 2013, 11:47 PM

    I’d buy an Industrial grinder before I’d pay the fine at least I’d get use out of the grinder again I’d leave a pile of metal on the side of the street.

    51
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    Mute John Barnes
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    Feb 4th 2013, 10:21 PM

    Homer, one. New York , nothin’. D’oh!

    50
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    Mute Dubliners Againstclamping
    Favourite Dubliners Againstclamping
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    Feb 4th 2013, 11:41 PM

    The clamp chain goes around the suspension. However I know a man who got round that little problem. First he removed the wheel nuts and took the wheel off. Then he pulled the clamp up over his car bonnet and tied it to his passenger side door mirror with a small piece of rope. Then he put his wheel back on and drove off. What he did next I don’t know, you will just have to use your imagination ;)

    55
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    Mute mary cull
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    Feb 5th 2013, 12:12 AM

    Clampers are now illegal in London, all parking meters in most places now..

    55
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    Mute bacoxy
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    Feb 5th 2013, 12:01 AM

    Private Clampers can rot in hell… its legalised extortion that is completely unregulated in this country… not enough people shout about it so nothing gets done.

    48
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    Mute Ross Burke
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    Feb 5th 2013, 2:21 AM

    Private property clamping is not legal , nor illegal. But it’s illegal to extort money from someone while they’re under duress. If your car is clamped on pvt property , remove clamp by all means possible without damaging clamp chain or lock. There is nothing they can do, as they have technically assaulted your car.
    But if its council clamping , there is legislation for that , therefore it would be illegal to remove a county council clamp.
    I have removed a clamp , rang the clamping company and told them, never heard anything from them again as they clamped my car without legislation allowing them to do so . Bit of a grey area !

    18
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    Mute ThomasFrancisMeagher
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    Feb 4th 2013, 10:35 PM

    God damn clampers!

    44
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    Mute EJPC
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    Feb 4th 2013, 10:36 PM

    The champers should have clamped one of the rear wheels as BMWs are rear wheel drive

    39
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    Mute EJPC
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    Feb 4th 2013, 10:37 PM

    *Clampers damn you iPhone auto correct

    27
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    Mute David Duignan
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    Feb 4th 2013, 10:15 PM

    fair play

    35
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    Mute Killian Fitzpatrick
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    Feb 4th 2013, 11:28 PM

    Typical BMW driver, f*cking delighted, hope he/she has caused some serious damage to their car!

    33
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    Mute Peter Richardson
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    Feb 4th 2013, 10:23 PM

    Ahhh lads give me a break. I was trying out my independent suspension on my BMW.

    33
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    Mute mikeobrien4FM
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    Feb 4th 2013, 11:54 PM

    Looking at where he is parked the eejit deserved to be clamped

    24
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    Mute Rachel Howe
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    Feb 5th 2013, 12:24 AM

    Jaysys they’re only doing their job, I’ve never been clamped as I’ve never parked illegally, problem solved. Don’t park illegally you won’t get clamped!!!

    20
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    Mute Dubliners Againstclamping
    Favourite Dubliners Againstclamping
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    Feb 5th 2013, 12:47 AM

    I’d rather clean toilets for a living that work as a clamper. You have to be a really bad, nasty human being to be a clamper that’s for sure. But remember that behind every bad clamper there’s a clamping company – and their bosses are raking in millions at the expense of ordinary hardworking people.

    31
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    Mute Shane Mc Guinness
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    Feb 5th 2013, 3:59 AM

    The mans a legend in my book

    14
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    Mute caroline morley
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    Feb 5th 2013, 12:24 AM

    Ha ha never thought of that your more than likely right nice one :)

    14
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    Mute Máire Ni Giolla B
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    Feb 5th 2013, 12:46 AM

    What about 97D’s privacy?? just wondering.

    12
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    Mute Decky Fullerton
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    Feb 5th 2013, 12:13 AM

    Happy Clamper

    12
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    Mute Brian McGuinness
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    Feb 5th 2013, 9:06 AM

    That particular type of clamp is quite easy to remove. It’s connected by chain to your antiroll bar which can be unbolted to allow the chain to slip free. Before you do this it’s important to ascertain who has clamped you. If it’s a private company on private grounds they will use the term release ‘fee’ or release ‘charge’. If the clampers are licenced by the local authority it will say a ‘fine’ of x amount. If you’ve been clamoed by a private company as long as you do not damage the clamp while taking it off and do not steal the clamp, you are in the clear. I was clamped in dublin while staying in a designated parking spot for the apartment I was staying and still got clamped by APCOA. I was so livid, I stayed up half the night reading about clamping and the different types they use. I got the tools out and off came the clamp in about twenty minutes. What a great feeling. That was over six months ago now. Haven’t heard zip from APCOA.

    11
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    Mute Patw
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    Feb 5th 2013, 12:52 AM

    If the clamping was done properly there would be no problem ,and I am sure everyone would be happy enough……..

    9
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    Mute Bo11ocks_to_this
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    Feb 4th 2013, 10:17 PM

    Doh!

    8
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    Mute Daniel Fortes
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:10 AM

    Cycle and you won’t have any clamping problems and it’s also Eco friendly. ;)

    3
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    Mute John Phelan
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    Feb 6th 2013, 5:44 AM

    No

    2
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    Mute mary cull
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    Feb 5th 2013, 12:19 AM

    Only if he is on a promise..

    3
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    Mute Siobhan Shove On Lynch
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    Feb 24th 2013, 11:28 AM

    My grandad drove the clamp off his car and through it in the skip. That was in the 80s. Good times. The clamps they have today are a bit more robust. Damn you technology!

    1
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