Grandfather Condemns 'Morally Bankrupt' Council Over Parking Fine During Daughter's Final Days
An 89-year-old grandfather has launched a scathing attack on a Labour-led council, branding its initial decision to uphold a parking fine he received while visiting his dying daughter as 'morally bankrupt'. Dr Brian Farrington, from St Helens in Merseyside, found himself in an agonising predicament at The Christie cancer centre in Manchester in May 2024, a situation that has sparked a wider debate about compassion in local authority enforcement.
A Heartbreaking Circumstance
The distressing sequence of events unfolded when Dr Farrington and his wife, Joyce, who is registered blind, travelled to Manchester to be with their 55-year-old daughter, Joanne. They had just received the devastating news that her condition, stage four ovarian cancer, had deteriorated rapidly and she had only days to live. 'On that very day we had to stay to get a solicitor in to draw up the will there and then, so that delayed us and that was the main reason that we were late,' Dr Farrington explained to the BBC.
Faced with completely full hospital car parks, the elderly couple made the difficult decision to park on a double yellow line near the specialist cancer facility. Their primary focus was solely on supporting their daughter during her final moments, not on parking regulations. Tragically, Joanne passed away on May 15, just days after the visit.
A Rejection Deemed 'Appalling'
Dr Farrington subsequently appealed the £35 Penalty Charge Notice (PCN), writing a heartfelt letter to Manchester City Council. In correspondence seen by The Telegraph, he expressed his profound dismay. 'This response makes me feel I should have told my dying daughter that I would have to leave her because I may get a parking ticket,' he wrote.
He further criticised the council's apparent lack of discretion, stating: 'I am bringing it to your attention because it says that under no circumstances can the council use any discretion based on compassion. That I find appalling.' The grieving grandfather argued that his profound grief was 'compounded by the lack of discretion given extreme circumstances' and suggested the fines might be viewed as an income stream for the authority.
Despite his plea, a council worker responded: 'Although I sympathise with your circumstances, I am unable to cancel your PCN for this reason.' Dr Farrington, adhering to the ruling, paid the fine but vowed to highlight the issue publicly.
Council Backtrack and Refund
Following Dr Farrington's decision to raise awareness of the incident, Manchester City Council has now agreed to refund the fine. A council spokesman confirmed: 'The council is aware of this case, and following a review this gentleman will be contacted and issued a refund for the ticket that was issued.'
However, for Dr Farrington, the principle remained paramount. 'This isn’t about the money. It’s the principle of it – it’s morally bankrupt,' he asserted. He has stated his intention to donate the refunded money to The Christie cancer centre, the very hospital where his daughter was treated.
Broader Context of Enforcement Controversies
This incident is not isolated in raising questions about council enforcement tactics. It emerges shortly after a separate controversy involving Croydon Council, where workers painted a disabled bay around a legally parked car and then issued its owner with a fine. The vehicle's owner, Afrobeats artist Silvastone, shared CCTV footage of the event online, describing it as 'madness'. Croydon Council stated it had dropped the fines before the footage was widely circulated online.
These cases collectively underscore ongoing public concerns regarding the balance between necessary regulation and humane discretion, particularly when citizens are facing the most severe personal crises.
