Campaigners blast Government for dragging heels on scrambler bike ban

Siobhán Lynch, front, centre, takes part in a walk in memory of her daughter Grace, who died after being hit by a scrambler bike. Picture: Clive Gee

The Government is willing to ban the "scourge" of scrambler bikes in public places following the death of Dublin teenager Grace Lynch, but road safety campaigners have blasted it for dragging its heels over such action.

Transport minister Darragh O’Brien said he is willing to bring in legislation banning their use. 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin echoed these commitments, saying that “we have it within our power to make that happen, and it will happen”.

However, PARC Road Safety Group, said it should not have taken the death of Ms Lynch for the Government to look at implementing regulations legislated for three years ago.

Keith Lee, aged 18, appeared in Blanchardstown District Court on Tuesday, charged with causing the death of the teenage girl in a crash involving a scrambler motorbike in Dublin on Sunday.

Ms Lynch, aged 16, was walking along Ratoath Rd in Finglas when the crash happened at around 2.20pm.

Mr Lee, with an address on Park View Drive, Poppintree Park, Dublin 11, was accused of driving causing Ms Lynch’s death, under Section 53 and 53(A) of the Road Traffic Act 2011. 

He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Grace Lynch was 16.

Mr O’Brien told the Irish Examiner that he would be willing to bring forward legislation to crack down on scramblers but stated that gardaí do have adequate powers to confiscate them.

“Scramblers are a scourge,” he said.

“Measures were brought forward by the last government in 2023 — very effective measures, I believe, that give the powers to gardaí to detain and to take these scrambler bikes that should not be on our roads from people.

“I did speak to [justice] minister [Jim] O'Callaghan, and, indeed, the Taoiseach. The regulations to underpin the changes, two of the three have been fully completed.

“Basically, it's an offence to drive a scrambler in any dangerous way anywhere. What I'd like to see, to be frank, is them being banned in public spaces, full stop. It shouldn't take a tragedy like this to further the measures that we need to take, but we have to respond to this too.

The law was changed. Enforcement is needed. Unquestionably, more needs to be done.

When asked if he would be willing to progress legislation to ban scramblers on public roads, Mr O'Brien said, "I would, and I think we need to".

The remaining regulation that has yet to be signed allows regulations to be created within the Road Traffic Act to prohibit or restrict the use of certain vehicle classes in specific areas.

At the Oireachtas justice committee, Mr O'Callaghan said that section 35(A) of the Road Traffic Act allows junior transport minister Seán Canney to outlaw certain vehicles on roads.

Transport minister Darragh O’Brien said he is willing to bring in legislation banning the use of scrambler bikes. File picture

This, he said, would not see scramblers outlawed, but see their use on public roads and public parks banned.

But he warned: "We still have the same issue in terms of enforceability".

Mr Martin told the Dáil that legislation had already been changed, resulting in 300 scramblers and quad bikes being seized by gardaí across 2024 and 2025.

“I understand fully the anger of the people in working-class areas, but particularly in Finglas,” the Taoiseach continued. 

“There is no room, no need. There should be no scramblers on public roads. We have it within our power to make that happen, and it will happen.”

Susan Gray, founder of PARC Road Safety Group, told the Irish Examiner that it should not have taken the death of Ms Lynch for the Government to look at implementing regulations legislated for in 2023.

“It is far too late for this young girl, but hopefully she didn't die in vain,” she said.

“But how many other parts of that 2023 Act that was passed in the Dáil two and a half years ago are yet [to be looked at]? Are they going to look at other issues now?”

Ms Gray also expressed concerns about how promptly other road safety legislation that is due to be signed by the Government before the summer recess will be implemented.