Arrests as 1,000 ‘boy racers’ flock to Killarney

Upwards of 1,000 "boy racers’’ in noisy modified cars were in Killarney, Co Kerry, at the weekend, with gardaí receiving more than 30 complaints from the public about alleged dangerous driving and dangerous manoeuvres.

A number of arrests were made and around eight vehicles impounded, but gardaí had no major incidents, or public disorder, to report.

The boy racers are not part of the annual Rally of the Lakes, which has been based in Killarney for many years during the May bank holiday.

Sergeant Dermot O’Connell, Killarney, said a major Garda operation, which involved drafting in extra personnel and two regional armed support units from Cork and Limerick, had worked well.

“We’ve had no serious trouble up to this point because of the strong Garda presence and the use of additional resources,’’ he said.

Gardaí are investigating an alleged assault in Killarney, on Saturday night. There were two arrests for dangerous driving and two for drink driving. A number of individuals will come before the courts in due course.

Following driving stunts, some of the estimated 700 modified cars used by “boy racers’’ left their tyre marks on roads in the area, especially on the main N22 Killarney to Cork road around Glenflesk.

About 400 cars created a noisy disturbance around Glenflesk, late on Friday night and early on Saturday, with the gardaí having to intervene.

In Killarney town and surrounds, car parks, industrial sites, some minor link roads and even church grounds were blocked off to the young drivers.

Crowds in Killarney for the rally are reported to be bigger than in previous years.

Separately in Killarney yesterday, around 800 runners took part in The Wings for Life event in aid of spinal cord research, with former Kerry football All-Ireland winner Seamus Moynihan, women’s rugby star Siobhan Fleming, Galway hurler Ger Canning as well as Munster rugby player JJ Hanrahan at the starting line.