Garda warning for local boy racers

Offaly’s Crime Prevention Officer, Graham Kavanagh, this week spoke out about anti-social behaviour involving modified cars.

He has appealed to the public to report vehicles they see speeding excessively or driving dangerously by carrying out “donut” manoeuvres in the Offaly area.

He said that while these offences are usually carried out in isolated rural locations, the only way gardai can crack down on the behaviour is through communication with the public.

“The boy/girl racers. It's been on the rise again over the last few years but is becoming more prevalent in some rural locations,” began Sgt Kavanagh.

“We all see the markings on the roads the next day where they've been carrying out "donuts" manoeuvres.

“Rural locations in Clara/Kilbeggan/Moate, areas of the Slieve Bloom, Emo/The Heath have all reported concerns about the activity.

“Both the noise and road safety are the major concerns,” he said this week.

While the RSA and Garda continue to engage and detect such offenders it's not always possible to catch them in action due to remoteness of locations and the groups use of social media to notify of Garda activity whereupon they leave or park up.

"One thing as a community we can do is to keep reporting vehicles and, if at all possible, the vehicles details and identities of the drivers.

He also had a series of questions for the parents of young people in the county who have modified cars.

“What are you doing as a parent when you know your son or daughter is out during the night in their car? 

“What are you doing when you become aware the gardai have interacted with them about there driver behaviour?”

Sgt Kavanagh said their actions have serious consequences for the wellbeing of the people living in rural communities. “Ultimately they are okay until they have an accident, or hurt or kill themselves, or others and then it's too late to do anything,” he ended.