‘Cop on’ Louth councillor warns boy racers as weekend ‘drifting’ events cause havoc

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

A Louth councillor has hit out at so-called “boy-racers” who are hosting weekend gatherings which are terrifying rural communities.

Cllr Pearse McGeough highlighted “racing” events taking place between the Mooremount roundabout and Greenmount, in the Dunleer and Castlebellingham area, along the R132 old Dublin to Belfast Road.

Cllr McGeough said “I have been contacted by residents over the past few weeks complaining of cars causing excessive noise as they are speeding and racing along the straight stretch of road and ‘drifting’ while spectators look on. It appears to be happening on Friday or Saturday nights.”

“Drifting” involves the driver oversteering through a turn, a manoeuvre which leads to a car sliding sideways at high speed, often with the front wheels pointed in the opposite direction.

Cllr McGeough warned; “This is a very dangerous practice and drifting obviously can result in crashes or the vehicle flipping over, there is very little control of the vehicle and with so many people present watching, it is a tragedy waiting to happen, not to mention the public who happen to be driving through the area or the people living there. I would ask those involved to cop on to themselves.”

“Many residents feel hemmed into their homes while this is happening, as they are afraid to venture out. A lot of these are older residents and some live alone. This anti-social activity outside their homes is intimidating.”

He added that he has been in contact with the Garda Superintendent for the area and is ‘confident that the matter will be looked into.’