GARDAÍ IN CO Donegal have launched an action plan after hundreds of car enthusiasts announced they will descend on a seaside town this St Patrick’s Day.
Councillors and gardaí fear plans by the group to converge on Bundoran this weekend will bring chaos to the town.
Thousands of people will already be in the town celebrating the Bank Holiday weekend which includes a parade on Sunday afternoon.
But now hundreds of young drivers from as far away as Galway and across Northern Ireland are planning to visit the popular location this weekend.
The group announced their plans on social media.
Gardaí have responded by announcing plans to put on extra checkpoints to monitor any road traffic offences.
Councillor Michael McMahon said he had been made aware of the plans and was very concerned.
“It is a serious cause for concern for both the business community and the families. They have been there before and the gardai have worked very hard on it, to control it in the best possible way.
“We and the gardaí have tried to get in contact with the leaders of these car groups but it just hasn’t happened.
“The point is that they are picking a day which is one of the busiest days you will have with thousands of people and lots of parades.
“It will be chaos number one and number two is the health and safety situation that will arise there will be serious.
“I have no solution and this has been ongoing but I do know that with the activities of these cars there is an accident waiting to happen there. God forbid we had an accident in our town a few months ago and we certainly don’t want another one.
“What I am saying is that I spoke to the Superintendent there and I will be meeting the Garda and the business people from Bundoran.
“It is an ongoing situation and a very serious situation and the talk of it is already spoiling the day for people who want to enjoy St Patrick’s Day in a proper and democratic fashion.
“So I am wondering if we have any solutions to this and perhaps we can speak to these people and see if we can accommodate them in some form.
“But we are where we are and it has been posted on their Facebook page as happening on the 17th of March and that is serious.”
Garda Superintendent Karen Duffy of Ballyshannon Garda Station confirmed she was aware of the plans.
She said gardaí had reached out to organisers of the event but that they had not yet responded.
She added that if the cars were taxed and insured then gardaí could not stop people from driving them.
Meanwhile, a statement issued by local gardaí says they have a plan to set up extra checkpoints in the Bundoran area to monitor driving activity in the area this weekend.
A spokesperson said that “due to the upcoming bank holiday weekend and the St. Patrick’s Day parades in Bundoran, Ballyshannon , Donegal Town and the surrounding areas, it is expected to be a busy weekend”.
“Gardaí have been made aware of a planned car gathering in Bundoran on St. Patrick’s Day and as a result of this planned event, gardaí will be conducting extra checkpoints to detect Road Traffic Offences.”
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