Transport minister signals scrambler bike ban after Dublin teenager’s death
Siobhan Lynch (front centre), the mother of a teenage girl who died after a scrambler crash in north Dublin, has called for them to be taken off the road, takes part in a walk in memory of her daughter Grace. Picture date: Monday January 26, 2026.
Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien has said he is willing to introduce legislation banning the use of scrambler bikes in public places following the death of Dublin teenager Grace Lynch.
In the Dáil, Taoiseach Micheál Martin echoed those comments, saying “we have it within our power to make that happen, and it will happen”.
Keith Lee, 18, appeared before Blanchardstown District Court on Tuesday, charged with causing the death of a teenage girl in a collision involving a scrambler motorbike in Dublin on Sunday.
Grace Lynch, 16, was walking along Ratoath Road in Finglas when the collision occurred at around 2.20pm.
Mr Lee, of Park View Drive, Poppintree Park, appeared before Judge Áine Clancy, accused of dangerous driving causing Ms Lynch’s death, contrary to Sections 53 and 53A of the Road Traffic Act 2011. He faces a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years if convicted.
Speaking at Dublin Port, Mr O’Brien expressed his condolences to Ms Lynch’s family, saying he “can’t imagine” what her mother is going through.
He told the that he would be willing to bring forward legislation to further clamp down on scrambler bikes, but said gardaí already have 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 as well, 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. We have had scrambler bikes confiscated from people, quad bikes confiscated from people by the gardaí, about 130.
“But unquestionably, more needs to be done.”
Asked if he would progress legislation to ban scramblers on public roads, Mr O’Brien said: “I would, and I think we need to.”
One remaining regulation, which has yet to be signed, would allow for the restriction or prohibition of certain vehicle classes in specific areas under the Road Traffic Act.
Mr O’Brien also said parents must take responsibility and should not buy scramblers for their children, saying they have a “responsibility” to protect them.
In the Dáil, the Taoiseach again expressed his condolences to Ms Lynch’s family, saying “nothing that I can say can in any way ease the devastation, the pain, the hurt, the anger that Grace's family feels right now”.
“I understand that anger, and I understand the devastation that they're going through,” Mr Martin said, “They have lost a beautiful daughter who should be going to school, who should be with her friends today.”
Mr Martin told the Dáil that changes to legislation had already resulted in the seizure of 300 scrambler and quad bikes by gardaí across 2024 and 2025.
However, he acknowledged that the final regulations still need to be completed and should already be in place.
“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.”
- Louise Burne, Political Correspondent
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