Boy racers caused Christmas chaos in Mayo town

Castlebar councillors have called for Gardaí to take action on boy racers who have become a scourge in the town.

There was anger in the county town after scores of high-powered cars descended on Castlebar on Christmas Night. The pre-arranged meet-up enraged householders who were disturbed on what should have been the most peaceful night of the year.

Cllr Martin McLoughlin said some of the car owners revved their engines even louder when approached by irate residents.

"People couldn't even hear their televisions over the noise," he said, adding that the cars drove around Castlebar from 8pm until 1am.

Cllr McLoughlin said locals were frustrated that there was only one Garda patrol car on duty that night and felt Gardaí did not take appropriate action. 

"It was put on social media so they had to know it was happening," he remarked.

Cllr Al McDonnell said local Gardaí are aware of the issue and he believes it will not happen again. Cllr Michael Kilcoyne offered to raise the matter at the next meeting of the Mayo Joint Policing Committee.

Cllr Donna Sheridan said boy racers are a persistent and almost nightly problem in Castlebar and at Derrinumera, near Newport. She said their behaviour is particularly upsetting for the elderly.