Intolerance and total disregard for us elderly have become a way of life, it seems. It has sparked me (no, compelled me) to write this letter about a recent personal experience and also to wish the pensioner residents of River Row in Castle Street, Omagh, all the best in their battle to maintain their privacy and protect themselves and their properties from totally unwarranted intrusion.

Firstly, I'll begin by asking, is parking on double yellow lines in Campsie the reserve only of the elite in the community? As a 71-year-old victim of the wrath of one over-zealous traffic warden not so long ago, I was forced to park briefly on a double yellow just up from the Post Office because the disabled bay was already occupied. My message took no more than three minutes, but that cut no ice at all with this warden. He took no prisoners, or so it seemed. Yet a local councillor can park his not-so-inconsiderate black Cadillac on double yellows outside the Ulster Unionist Office in Campsie, as and when he pleases. Traffic wardens are totally oblivious to this blatant breach of traffic law that us pensioners dare not attempt. This is not just sour grapes; it has been commented upon by many others in Campsie who have fallen foul of the wardens. The law applies to some and not to others.

Now, I thought, would the same level of tolerance be shown to me, or a pensioner from River Row, for example? Not a hope. This self-same councillor was quick to criticise Cllr Johnny McLaughlin in last week's paper about who did what on behalf of the River Row residents, more concerned with his silly pride than getting the thing sorted.

When he has harrowed what Johnny has ploughed on behalf of the vulnerable in our community, or if he punched in as many hours as this community stalwart does on a daily basis for us pensioners and disabled, he wouldn't even have time to let his car cool on a double yellow line, let alone leave it.

I know political correctness was never one of Johnny's fortés, but he is dead right when he says that talk is cheap and bluster will achieve absolutely nothing.

It might befit this councillor to stand beside Johnny and the afflicted pensioners outside the council offices, protesting at what is a clear breach of human rights. If the rest of the councillors had an ounce of gumption, they would do the same. When anyone steps across the line and violates the rights of the elderly or the disabled, then Johnny, true to character, has no fear of exposing it to the full, even when it appears his own council is the offending party.

This is not about personalities; it is about how much we pensioners are persistently and deliberately overlooked. Omagh district councillors should get off their high horses and remember they are appointed by us to represent us fairly and equally.

Jack Mulcahy

Omagh