The need to address the scourge of scramblers in Dublin
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
The Clare Byrne Show on Newstalk with Aviva Insurance.
We begin this morning with Daniel Ennis, the Social Democrats TD for Dublin Central, who took to social media over the weekend about what he says are scramblers and high-powered motorbikes taking over the north inner city. And Daniel joins me on the line. Good morning, Daniel.
Good morning, Clare.
So what did you see?
Well, Clare, exactly what you said there. I went to get petrol and to get the car washed just before 10 o'clock on Saturday night. I'm always saying, truly, truly frightened me. I was terrified. I've grown up in the heart of our city. It takes a lot to shock me, sadly, Clare, but really, I turned onto the North Strand Road and from Newcoming Bridge to the Ansley Bridge, there was three, which I thought three, scramblers initially and one high-powered motorbike flying up and down at crazy speeds up and down the North Strands doing wheelies and as I turned to go up towards Fairview one missed me narrowly I don't know how first of all whoever was driving it didn't come off the bike and how it didn't crash into me you know the steering lost control of the steering after coming down off a wheelie and I thought right that'll clear them off now and they continued I parked on one of the side streets and they continued for 15 minutes close to 15 minutes
unopposed, no guards and really, really frightening in between traffic and yeah, it was scary.
It was scary, Clare. Did you report them?
I rang the guard straight away. I rang 999. And with that, I didn't see any action. So I drove to Star Street. And on my way to Star Street, I seen the rest of the bikes on Sean McDermott Street and Buckingham Street. And what they were doing, I seen it.
What did Daniel Ennis witness on the North Inner City streets on Saturday night?
Now, look, I probably should have went straight home after that, but I didn't. I stayed out in the car. And what I witnessed was Portland Road then being taken over, Buckingham Street being taken over, Sean McDermott Street, Parnell Street. they were obviously getting moved off or taking their time on roads then going to the next one and then when I went to Star Street and I spoke to the guard that was on the desk he basically he shrugged his shoulders and said Daniel we know you're screaming about it we know we're getting calls all night but we haven't got the resources to deal with it that's what was said to me And there were the same eight as far as you were concerned on all of those streets you were sort of watching them go through from where you saw them first right through to the end the same eight scramblers and high powered motorbikes
Without question, Clare. Like, you know, like some of them were spanking new. Like some of them were, there was a black and red, like this was like a high powered like motorbike, you know, and there was a young lad driving it. And I mean, crazy speeds, weaving in and out of traffic. Like this was on the back of like having the All-Ireland semi-final that day. Like the strand and the city was busy. Like it wasn't early hours of the morning, you know, but I seen one unmarked police car driving by me at Fairview and that was it. That was it.
And were these scramblers and the high-powered motorbikes, were they going in the direction of the traffic or were they turning around and coming back into...
everything Claire honest to God it was truly I see the scramblers every day but this honest to God I was frightened for myself and the car and people they were going up and down the cycle lanes on the North Strand they were taking turns they were doing donuts it wasn't like we're getting chased and we're going from A to B here this was like we're taking over the North Strand road for our own personal use and scrambler track
it was crazy we have Grace's Law now which bans scramblers from being used in public places that's there but clearly from what you saw it's not being enforced
No, absolutely not. Like, it's not like the guards. Like, in fairness, this is not me biting the head off the guards, Clare. Like, they haven't got the resource.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:01–1:40
2
What did Daniel Ennis witness on the North Inner City streets on Saturday night?
1:40–4:13
3
How did the scrambler riders behave and what immediate danger did they pose?
4:13–6:07
4
Did Daniel report the incident and what was the Gardaí response?
6:07–12:42
5
Why does Daniel say Grace's Law is not being effectively enforced?
12:42–15:08
Speakers
4 identifiedMore from The Claire Byrne Show
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