A YOUNG woman was mown down by electric scooter riders wearing masks, smashing into her on the footpath before tearing off and leaving her injured.
Now, a city councillor has warned that the masked riders, as well as posing a danger to the public, are suspected of being involved in serious criminal activity.
A reader contacted the Limerick Post about the incident, describing how five scooters and scrambler bikes were involved in the hit-and-run.
“They were coming from Upper William Street, three of them coming against traffic, two of them driving on the footpath at speed,” he told the Limerick Post.
“One collided on the footpath with a young woman in her 20s, knocking her to the ground.
“The young woman was left with marks on her leg and arm and the rider was thrown from the bike. After this, he got to his feet and rode away. There were no reg plates on any of the bikes and the riders were wearing masks.”
The reader pointed out that while the young woman was badly shaken and bruised, she didn’t appear to have any serious injuries but “it would be a very different matter if she was an older or frail person.”
City councillor and former mayor Daniel Butler (FG) has raised the matter of the lawlessness of some scooter owners and the need to legislate for safety on many occasions.
“It is awful and makes me so angry,” he told the Limerick Post.
“This shocking event sadly is not an isolated occurrence in the city. I can only imagine how frightening it was for this lady and the witnesses to it. I hope she recovers well.”
“We are seeing this regularly with individuals going at high speeds on electric bikes and scooters with speeds exceeding the legal limit of 25km/h.”
“These individuals – often masked, as in this situation – use paths, go against one way traffic, across junctions, down alleyways, and anywhere they please, causing huge danger to the public.”
“It is clear to all of us they are up to, at a minimum, anti-social activity, and sometimes much more serious crime. They do not care about anyone, no matter how old or young they are.”
“Legislation is moving through the Dáil at the moment in this regard but it really cannot more quick enough. We need our Gardaí empowered to act on this and simply seize these vehicles and make it illegal to sell them, at least to minors, before someone is killed.”
