Sandwich boards seized in Garda swoop

Sandwich boards and menus were seized from outside of businesses in the pedestrianised area of the city yesterday afternoon during a joint operation between Galway City Council and An Garda Síochána. 

Restaurants and shops had been recently advised that the boards were causing obstruction in the city’s thoroughfare and constituted a road traffic hazard under the Road Traffic Acts. 

Community wardens had seized a small number of the signs since Race Week, however, the scale of yesterday’s sweep, which was conducted by five Gardaí and two wardens, was unprecedented and businesses have complained that it was executed without fair warning. 

The sandwich boards had been criticised in recent months by interest groups who contended that they created obstructions for disabled people and the blind, and pressure had been put on businesses to withdraw the signs. 

However, businesses were left reeling after yesterday’s lightning strike as they watched their sandwich boards being lifted and taken away in a van. It is understood that they will now have to pay €70 to get their property back. 

“Galway City Council issued an order to the wardens to seize the signs,” reported Councillor Niall McNelis, whose sign was taken from outside his premises on Quay Street. 

“I’d have no problem with it if businesses were given a bit of notice. They should have sent out a letter saying that after a certain date, the signs would be seized to give people a fair chance. Businesses are struggling and just trying to encourage people to shop,” he added.