A ‘cheap’ cinema night soon turned expensive for cinemagoers in Kerry who were issued with parking fines on Tuesday night.

Up to 40 cars parked outside a cinema in Tralee were issued with €40 fines by Kerry County Council.

Many locals had to park on the street due to the car park at Tralee Omniplex being full.

Tuesday night is considered ‘cheap’ night at Tralee Omniplex, with tickets only costing €5.

However, a lot of people were furious when they returned to their cars to discover they had been issued with parking fines.

Bernie McNally took to Facebook to express her anger at the Council’s actions:

“I don't usually rant on Facebook but here goes, went to the cinema tonight in Tralee, arrived to find car park full and barriers up stopping cars entering, like the other 30-40 cars I parked outside. After leaving cinema and returning to my car, there was a €40 parking fine on my car and EVERY other car there.

“It was really worth the overtime Kerry County Council paid the traffic warden tonight, they made a fortune... good of KCC to potential take business from the Omniplex, not the cheap night out anymore.”

County Council signs had been erected earlier that day telling motorists that parking was prohibited on the road adjoining the cinema.

Kerry County Council issued the following statement in response:

“A number of weeks ago, the Kerry County Council Tralee Municipal District Operations office received a number of complaints in relation to illegal parking on the footpaths of the N86 Dan Spring Road. The matter was investigated and found to be related to the special offer advertised by the Omniplex cinema on Tuesdays.

“…As an enforcement measure, Traffic Wardens were deployed in the area last night and a number of parking fines were issued. The situation will be monitored going forward in the interests of public safety.”

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