Border Road hijacked by "Boy Racers"

A major cross border road was hijacked by 'boy racers' performing hand brake turns and 'doughnuts', concerned police have revealed.

The 'wild west' scene, on the A3, linking Fermanagh and Cavan, attracted around 200 late night spectators.

Police on both sides of the border are appalled that a main route was 'taken over' and are deeply concerned that the craze, which has been going on for almost 12 months, could cause some serious injury or death.

The police have appealed for motorists who come across 'boy racers' in action, not to drive through and avoid the road.

It is believed that some drivers indulged in the new craze of 'diffing' where the accelerator is floored and the clutch is simultaneously dipped, causing the rear wheels to spin.

The latest in a series of incidents which, Police believe, has been going on for the past year, took place on the Concession Road, near Newtownbutler at 11.15pm on Friday. A PoliceI spokesman stated that approximately 200 vehicles were counted at the scene.

" The road was blocked by cones, and vehicles were performing handbrake turns and doughnut manoeuvres on the road. Someone is going to end up seriously hurt or killed," he warned. "The vehicles are disrupting traffic and closing a road is illegal."

The spokesman said the stretch of road used for the 'spectacle' was massive, and he believed those indulging in this illegal activity had previously arranged to meet there in cars, motorbikes and quads.

The Police in Lisnaskea are now working in conjunction with the Gardai to resolve the issue. The Police spokesman warned that firm action would be taken against the guilty, with fines and imprisonment penalties for those caught driving dangerously.

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward and help them with their cross border operation with the Gardai in clamping down on illegal road users in Newtownbutler. Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 0845 600 8000 or Crimestoppers confidentially on 0800 555 111.

A senior Police officer said this latest craze was more prevalent now in Fermanagh than it was years ago.

"In the past, you'd hear about it being done on forestry roads but, as you can see from this latest incident, they have now come out on to main roads. In fact, this isn't the first time they've been doing this on the Newtownbutler concession road.

"I do know that the Police at Lisnaskea are putting together a plan to deter a recurrence and stamp out this kind of behaviour. What's its attraction? It's a spectator sport to be honest. It's one of these fads that young drivers go through.

"But, what I can't understand is the damage they're doing to their own vehicles, burning tyres and wrecking their differential. It's all expense. It isn't good for the car and that's one obvious consequence that can come out of it.

"The other consequence, of course, is they're not showing a lot of consideration to others who happen to be using the road. My advice to any motorist who comes across something like this is: don't try and drive through them. I know some people might feel like doing that.

"What I would advise is don't get involved. Avoid that stretch of road, take another route and contact the Police. But, don't get involved."

Apart of the risk of injury to the participants and anyone trying to drive through, there is also the noise factor in the dead of night in a remote rural when cattle which are housed in start to panic.

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