Gardai poised to tackle ‘rallying’ in Laois mountains

A warning was issued to drivers who have been ‘rallying’ in the Slieve Bloom Mountains. 

The warning was issued at the latest Laois Joint Policing Committee meeting by Chief Superintendent John Scanlan. 

“We are giving them fair warning now. Whoever is going out there committing these type of offences and harassing people out there in the Slieve Bloom Mountains, causing damage, driving dangerously, it is no longer a place they are going to find themselves alone,” he said. 

Chief Supt Scanlan said the issue had dominated the meeting and those involved cannot say they weren’t given fair warning. 

“We are going to make sure that the Slieve Blooms is a safe place for people to live and drive,” he told the meeting. 

Local TD Brian Stanley said “car rallying” was a particular problem in the Slieve Bloom Mountains and it needed to be addressed. 

Cllr Conor Bergin also remarked on the issue which he said was ongoing.  He said cars were out rallying at all hours of the night and “behaving recklessly” in the mountains. 

Cllr James Kelly said he had no issue with young people gathering if they respect the area. However, he said there was a lot of “antisocial behaviour” in the Slieve Blooms. 

“There has been serious damage done up there in the Slieve Blooms,” he told the meeting. 

He claimed scrambler motorbikes were being rode through the woodlands at night time.  Cllr Kelly also said a bridge had also been damaged in the mountains recently. 

According to Cllr Kelly, damage on the roads would be a hindrance to trucks taking timber from the mountains. 

He said people that lived in the Slieve Blooms were being put “in fear” at the weekends.    

Garda Superintendent Eamon Curley told the meeting that he has done some research on the matter. 

He said an operation was conducted targeting a gathering at a local amenity in Laois at the end of January. 

“They issued fixed charge penalty notices to a large number of attendees at that event. Subsequent to that we did learn that they did travel to the Glendine area,” he explained. 

Supt Curley said Laois Roads Policing have teamed up with their Offaly counterparts and resources have been assigned to the area.  He said gardai are in contact with people living in the area and he had a message for them. 

“We are available to respond and don’t feel hesitant to ring us and we will respond,” he said.

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Deputy Stanley said the issue may move from place to place. 

“It is not about trying to make life hard for young motorists,” insisted Deputy Stanley. He said it was about preventing antisocial behaviour and keeping the roads safe. 

He asked that if there was any intimidation or harassment of local people that it be rigorously followed up. 

Supt Curley said anyone intimidating residents can expect to face the “full rigours” of the law.