by Andrew Carey
‘KEEP the race in its place’ is the message offered as a part of a new programme aimed at diverting young offenders away from a life of car-related crime and the effects on society.
Operating in conjunction with Extern, Garda Juvenile Liaison officers and community Gardaí, the initiative is aimed at youths who are vulnerable and possibly influenced into a life of crime and in particular car thefts.
Community Garda for the Southill area Keith McCarthy explains how Motorsport Ireland and the Road Safety Authourity also teamed up with Extern to offer a workshop to youths from the area.
“The message is simple from us, Motorsport Ireland and the RSA that we need to keep the race in its place and that is on the track.
“High octane stuff is not for the streets and many of these involved in the programme are witness or at risk to this type of car crime activity. Car and vehicle based crime is amongst the highest ranked in the statistics for the Limerick area and we are hoping to steer these people away from it.
The programme, Garda McCarthy explained, will work on a basis that all levels are included.
“Some of the participants are role models in their own right and just need a project, while others may have offended in the past and were suitable for caution. Following an assessment they would have been deemed suitable for a restorative justice project like this.”
In relation to the project at The Factory in Galvone, Motosport Ireland and the RSA joined forces with Garda Tony Miniter to present a 90 minute workshop where the effects of car crime on society were outlined.
Life stories of those who suffered an Acquired Brain Injury from car crime as well as stories of families who experienced the tragedy of road death outlined in graphic detail the consequences of car related crime.
Garda McCarthy went on to explain that in the New Year, the group hope to advance the programme to include a mechanics aspect for those who “disconnect from car crime as Motorsport Ireland is a highly regularised and regulated body.
“We are looking to develop and expand different prospects in the project and in 2015, we hope to step up to the next level for those that remain within a certain set of parameters.”
Mike Walsh, Mid West manager with Extern said that the project has been working in Limerick for 11 years and explained that “in the early days we worked mostly with ex-offenders, but now we are co-ordinating that with ‘at risk’ referrals and primary referrals from Juvenile Liaison officers.
“This is all about giving those a chance to do something good and pursue interests in a positive way”, he said.
