Kerry towns ‘plagued’ by boy racers

SOME residents of Kerry towns “plagued” by boy racers have had to buy ear sealants and headache tablets to shut out the late night noise, it was claimed yesterday.

Following complaints from members of the public and councillors, gardaí have also pledged to enforce the Road Traffic Act and to use whatever legislation is available to them to crack down on the young drivers.

Fresh tyre marks, in the shape of loops and figures of eight, can be seen regularly on some national primary roads, including the Castleisland/Abbeyfeale road and the Ballyvourney/Killarney road, while car parks and industrial estates are said to be like magnets for the drivers.

Killarney independent councillor Michael Courtney called for a countywide drive to deal with the problem of boy racers.

“People can’t sleep in their beds at night with these fellows going around the place revving up engines at all hours,” he said.

“Something needs to be done. If these fellows [boy racers] want to carry on with their stunts they should go into a field and not be using the public roads. They’re keeping people awake at all hours and that’s just not on,” he said.

Mr Courtney suggested the public and councillors from all over Kerry should come together to work on problems they are having with boy racers.

Callers from around the county phoned Radio Kerry yesterday to complain about boy racers who often drive into housing estates and residential areas late at night.

A resident of Park Road, Killarney, who gave his name as Christopher, told of taking extreme measures to try to drown out the noise from boy racers’ cars.

He had bought CDs, ear sealants and headache tablets in an effort to block out noise. “It’s a nightmare living in the Park Road area.”

A Garda spokesman said when new regulations covering the modification of cars were introduced later this year they would be enforced.