Tallaght woman seriously injured after hit-and run incident

By Mary Dennehy

A WOMAN in her fifties was this week hospitalised after she was seriously injured in a hit-and-run incident involving an out-of-control scrambler in Tallaght, The Echo has learned.

The dangers associated with the use of scrambler bikes on public roads and in estates has been high on the community’s agenda for a number of years, with this week’s serious accident strengthening local arguments that “action needs to be taken before somebody is killed”.

According to Garda reports, a woman in her fifties was walking down Kiltalown Road in Jobstown with a child on Monday at around 8.20pm when a scrambler, which had lost control, mounted the footpath and struck the woman.

A senior officer at Tallaght Garda Station told The Echo: “It would appear that the scrambler lost control afterdoing a wheelie, mounted the footpath and hit the pedestrian – who was seriously injured and brought to Tallaght Hospital. 

“The driver of the scrambler left the scene afterwards, so we are treating this as a hit-and-run road accident.

“No arrests or seizures have yet been made but we are following a number of lines of inquiry.”

Confirming that the woman is recovering, the officer added: “A lot of these bikes aren’t insured or taxed which means we can seize them if caught out on a public road under section 41 of the Road Traffic Act.

“However, we have to stop the bike first and in the interest of the person on the bike, motorists and members of the public it is not always safe to pursue a scrambler through an estate.

“We would ask people to be responsible with these bikes and to properly insure them and use them in an appropriate area.”

Tallaght Central Labour Party councillor Mick Duff told The Echo that a change in law is needed to support gardaí in tackling the growing problem of scramblers and quads.

He said: “These bikes are causing major problems for communities – they are endangering people’s lives, destroying green spaces and being used to intimidate residents.

“Only this week I had complaints from residents in Killinarden and St Aengus’s about these bikes.

“This is an issue that effects all communities across Tallaght, all communities right across the county – and action needs to be taken before somebody is killed.

“We need stricter laws to protect communities and support gardaí in tackling the problem.”

He added: “These bikes cost a lot of money and it baffles me that after such an investment that a young person is not encouraged to join a club and learn how to ride these bikes properly, and use them in an appropriate area or track.”

Gardaí at Tallaght are currently investigating the hit-and-run incident and anybody with information is encouraged to call the station on 6666000.