‘Seize them, crush them!’

Jack Gleeson

LOCALS in Northside areas including Finglas and Ballymun are demanding action on scrambler bikes being driven recklessly on residential streets and through parks.

Several bikes are being driven through Tolka Valley Park in Finglas, especially on weekends, by youths without helmets and with little regard for safety.

Locals have told Northside People they now avoid the park for fear of being struck down by the speeding bikes and incidents in several other parks have also been reported.

Cllr Paul McAuliffe is calling for bikes driven by children that are seized by Gardai not to be returned but to be crushed and put on public display instead.

“It’s absolutely abhorrent that if a parent allows a nine-year-old child drive around on these bikes that the parent can then go down and claim it back,” he said.

“It's time we seize these bikes, crush them and put them on display to demonstrate to those who jeopardise the safety of our children what will happen if they illegally drive quad and scrambler bikes on our streets and in our parks.”

Dublin North West TD, Dessie Ellis (SF), said communities were being terrorised by quads and scrambler motorbikes in public places.

“This has been a major problem in many areas and I have received reports of quads and scramblers being used in Tolka Valley Park, along Balbriggan Beach, Donabate, Portmarnock and many other public parks around Dublin,” he said.

“It is an ever increasing problem and the Gardai seem powerless to stop it.”

Deputy Ellis said there was a gap in legislation that allowed people who use scramblers and quads for anti-social behaviour to sidestep Gardaí.

Last year he, along with fellow SF TD Imelda Munster, submitted a bill to amend the Road Traffic Act to allow Gardaí deal effectively with the issue.

Dublin North West TD, Róisín Shortall (SD), is another of many politicians who have raised the issue in the Dail.

“Those of us who represent urban constituencies are all too familiar with this widespread problem,” she said.

“It poses a major danger to the riders and the general public, and renders many housing estates unusable for other purposes because of road safety reasons.

“The only way a solution to this long running issue will be found is if there is a concerted response from Government.”

In response to questions from Deputy Shortall, Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan, said he shared her concerns.

“The repercussions of anti-social behaviour arising from the use of these vehicles can be very serious; scrambler and quad bike users can become injured, sometimes critically,” he said.

“People in close proximity to these vehicles may also become injured, at times, acutely. There is also the ever-present risk of fatality.

“In short, the misuse of scramblers and quad bikes can have a devastating effect on the users of these vehicles and the wider community.”

Minister Flanagan said his department had convened a cross-agency meeting in April to investigate the problem and discuss possible solutions.

“The meeting took account of a range of perspectives on the misuse of scramblers and quad bikes and also considered the various experiences currently being encountered in tackling this matter,” he added.

“The meeting concluded with an agreed set of key next steps in the context of driving tangible progress in relation to this public safety matter:”

The multi-agency approach involves the Departments of Transport, Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, along with gardai and Revenue. 

Deputy Shortall said she welcomed the new approach.

“I am pleased that the Minister has finally taken on board the calls which I, and many others, have been making over the past few years,” she added.

“We need a concerted and co-ordinated approach because too many lives are being put at risk.

“I hope this will be the first step in that direction.”