Cork’s 96FM forced to put brakes on Opinion Line’s April Fools joke

A Cork radio station had to put the brakes on its April Fools spoof on traffic congestion charges yesterday after City Hall was flooded with complaints from irate listeners who didn’t get the joke.

Cork’s 96fm broadcast the item on The Opinion Line shortly after 9am as city council chief executive, Ann Doherty, was briefing the Cork Business Association.

Against the backdrop of ongoing anger over parking charges and new bike lanes, host PJ Coogan told listeners that Ms Doherty was planning to introduce congestion charges.

An angry Cllr Fergal Dennehy (FF) said he would call for her resignation if it went ahead. “There will be civil disobedience if this goes ahead. If people thought Irish Water protests were bad, wait until this thing kicks off,” he fumed.

Thanks to Cllrs @FergalDennehy and Kieran McCarthy for being good sports on #ol96 this morning #aprilfools #congestioncharge

— 96fm Opinion Line (@OpinionLine96) April 1, 2015

Cllr Kieran McCarthy (Ind) said he would also oppose the move.

So many people phoned City Hall to express their outrage, that city officials contacted the show asking them to retract the item.

Please stop ringing City Hall abusing officials about the #congestioncharge #AprilFool #cork #dontbeanaprilfool #ol96

— 96fm Opinion Line (@OpinionLine96) April 1, 2015

Mr Coogan and show editor Deirdre O’Shaughnessy confirmed it was an April Fools joke and that councillors were in on the joke, before sending a hamper to City Hall as a goodwill gesture.

“It had chocolates and 96fm mugs so hopefully they were able to have a cuppa later and enjoy the joke,” she said.

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