Five people arrested and 11 motorbikes seized by Gardai in Christmas Day clampdown

[Dracony]

FIVE people have been arrested and 11 motobikes were seized on Christmas Day as part of a clampdown on illegally operated scrambler bikes.

Gardai also seized two cars in the operation to tackle illegal use of scramblers, quads and mopeds in the Cabra and Finglas areas of Dublin.

In a statement, Gardai said: "In the last number of years, there has been a significant problem on Christmas morning with illegally operated Scrambler bikes, Quads and Mopeds on the roads in Cabra and Finglas in Dublin.

"This year, a significant Garda Operation was put in place in order to tackle same.

"It began a number of weeks ago with community policing members calling to schools and parents in order to warn of the dangers associated with this activity.

"Leaflets were produced and distributed in an attempt to dissuade parents from purchasing these vehicles and young people from using them.

"Yesterday morning, Tuesday 25th December 2018, a major part of the operation was in place in order to combat their use.

"It involved members attached to Regular Policing Units, DDU, Specialist Units and Divisional and Regional Traffic.

"11 Motorbikes and 2 cars were seized. Two of these bikes are confirmed to have been stolen.

"Five people have been arrested so far, with follow up operations to come in the coming days and weeks as CCTV footage is analysed and results of Technical Examinations return.

"Investigations are continuing."

There have been a number of fatal accidents involving scrambler bikes on Christmas morning in recent years, with Leroy Coyle, 19, from Ballybough getting killed on Christmas Day in 2013 and Warren Kenny, 16, dying after a crash in Cherry Orchard in 2015.