Strengthened ban on scramblers in public places removes ‘grey area’ for gardaí

By Grainne Ni Aodha, Press Association

Strengthened laws to ban scrambler bikes in public places will remove “grey area” for gardaí, the Transport Minister has said.

New legislation for the ban will be known as “Grace’s law” after teenager Grace Lynch, who died following a crash involving a scrambler bike in Dublin on January 25th.

Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien thanked Grace’s parents for engaging with him in relation to the bill.

“Once I receive permission from Cabinet today, I’ll be signing the regulations this afternoon,” he said on the way into Cabinet.

“The Gardai require 24 hours just to update systems and advise the force, and that will be in place on Friday.

“I’m thinking in particular of Grace’s mam and dad and indeed, Grace and her and her family, I want to thank them sincerely for their engagement directly with me, for the dignified way in which they’ve been managing this awful, awful tragedy.

“I know nothing that we do is going to bring Grace back, but I hope that this is some small, small consolation, and that knowing that these additional changes that are on top of what was brought forward in 2023 are done in her name.”

There is already existing legislation banning the use of most scramblers in public places and the dangerous driving of the vehicles anywhere.

Our guards need to be able to carry out their duties without fear or favour. They're well-trained, they know how to pursue criminals, they need to be able to do that

However, the Government said the new laws would allow for a total ban on scrambler use in public spaces and strengthen garda enforcement powers.

He said the ban of scramblers on public roads and in parks is “very clear” and said the “grey area in that regard is gone”.

Asked about a garda who was given a road ban for dangerous driving while pursuing scrambler bikes, he said he was “taken aback” by the case.

He said he had met with Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan in relation to the issue on Tuesday.

“This needs to be dealt with. I don’t want to reach into decisions of the judiciary, but I will say as a citizen, I was taken aback by that judgment,” he said.

“Our guards need to be able to carry out their duties without fear or favour. They’re well-trained, they know how to pursue criminals, they need to be able to do that.

“Obviously, judges have discretion in relation to making their judgments, and that’s something that I respect, but we will deal with this.”