READ: Visually impaired Cork woman verbally abused for using disabled parking space

A young woman with a visual disability has spoken out after receiving abuse for using a disabled parking space - even though she had her permit clearly displayed.

Jessica Ní Mhaoláin's brother was parking in Cork city centre earlier today, and she was travelling as a passenger, when they were allegedly approached by a passerby who accused them of parking illegally.

The man threatened to call the gardaí and report them, despite Jessica showing him both her Disabled Person’s Parking Permit and her cane.

Jessica has spoken out about the situation, asking people to "think before you act like a langer".

"So I'm in the car with my brother and we're parking in a disabled parking space - that I have a permit for - earlier today near Emmet Place," she says.

"As we're parking this man stood right in front of the car and kept pointing at the sign above us that displays this is a designated disabled parking bay.

"As my permit was clearly displayed on the windscreen when we parked, we ignored him at first.

"When my brother tried to get out of the drivers side door, this man came and blocked his path, the following ensued:

"Man: 'Have you permission to park there? This is for disabled people'

"Brother: 'The badge is on the windscreen'

"Man: 'You better have a badge if you're parking there! This is disabled parking ONLY'

"Brother: 'If you look at the front of the car you'll see the badge'

"Man: 'I'M REPORTING YOU!!!! You shouldn't be parked there!!!'

"So I got out, Citizen Cane in hand and walked up to him shaking it and said:

"'Is this enough for you now? You can see my disability because of my cane? Is that enough to prove to you that I can park here - because I've proven I'm disabled. Is it?'

"He walked away shouting back that he was ringing the Gardaí and reporting us because we can't park there.

"I've said it 100 times and I'll say it once more. People have disabled parking permits for a variety of reasons, because a variety of disabilities will effect mobility - for people like me my sight hampers my ability to navigate my way around, and being able to park somewhere central makes my life that little bit easier because I won't be at as much risk of walking into things.

"It's not just wheelchair users that have these permits. These permits aren't assigned to a car, they are assigned to a disabled permit holder, to use in any vehicle they are being transported in.

"So for Christ sake, think before you act like a langer and ask an able-bodied person why they're parking in a disabled parking bay."

Can't see the Facebook post? Click here

The Chief Executive of the Disabled Drivers Association Ireland, Kenneth Fox, says there are many misconceptions about the eligibility criteria for a Disabled Person’s Parking Permit, but warns people against confronting drivers.

"Parking in general is highly contested and seems to generate a great deal of bad behaviour. Disabled parking spaces are more contested and there is a great deal of genuine misuse.

"However, there are also misconceptions with regard to who the privilege of a Disabled Person’s Parking Permit is extended to. Some think it is only disabled drivers, some wheelchair users only. This is not the case.

"It is probably not wise to confront people, you may be wrong and cause distress to a person with a genuine disability and even if you are right there is a high potential for an ugly situation.

"If a citizen is genuinely concerned, they should contact a traffic warden who does have the right to inspect the permit.

"Cork City Council is proactive in relation to enforcement. They recently introduced a clock system to enforce a four hour time limit to try to ensure a fair rotation of the available spaces."