BIKES BAN
‘Should have been done’ admits Martin in vow to take scramblers off roads after Grace Lynch death & brave mum’s demand
TAOISEACH Micheal Martin vowed to take scramblers off our roads, as he paid tribute to Grace Lynch.
The Dail heard the 16-year-old was “mowed down by a scrambler bike” on her way to see her boyfriend.
The tragic death of the Dublin teen dominated the Dail today, as politicians paid tribute to Grace’s brave mother Siobhan.
Speaking as hundreds of people gathered last night in Finglas after Grace’s death, Siobhan Lynch said: “I will fight to get these scramblers and scooters and everything off these streets.
“My poor baby was mangled in that hospital in that bed, and to watch her take her last breath is the worst pain imaginable.”
The brave mother’s speech was raised repeatedly in the Dail today as politicians demanded action to take these bikes off public roads.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald accused the Government of failing to listen to communities in working class areas for years with the issue of scrambler bikes having repeatedly been raised in the Dail previously.
She said: “Instead of preparing for school, her heartbroken parents prepare to bury their lovely daughter. Taoiseach, Grace Lynch was failed catastrophically.”
The Dublin Central TD blasted Micheal Martin for failing to take the issue seriously with legislation passed by the last government in 2023 to tackle these bikes still not enacted.
This law gave the gardai the power to seize scramblers, but also included the provision for the government to introduce an outright ban on these bikes being used on public roads.
Deputy McDonald fumed: “Only today when a child is dead, Government talks about moving quickly and tightening things up and taking action.”
The Taoiseach admitted that the Government should have pushed through the full legislation previously, as he confessed to the Dail: “It should have been done.”
The Fianna Fail leader has called an emergency meeting of the relevant ministers and has vowed to take immediate action to get scramblers off our roads.
He said that almost 300 scramblers have been seized by gardai since the legislation was passed in 2023, but admitted that it was “not enough” and the full rigours of the law need to be brought in to get these bikes off the road.
He said: “I understand fully the anger of people in working class areas and particularly in Finglas.
“There should be no scramblers on public roads. We have it within our power to make that happen and it will happen.”
Some 124 scrambler bikes were seized by gardai in 2024 and 113 were taken in 2025.
TOUGHER STANCE VOW
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan today said that he spoke with the Garda Commissioner about scramblers and he promised a much tougher stance from gardai on these bikes following Grace’s death.
The Minister told the Oireachtas Justice Committee that scramblers are being used by criminal gangs to ferry drugs and he admitted that action needs to be taken.
Fianna Fail TD Tom Brabazon said that people on scramblers have become “untouchables” as communities feel that gardai do not pursue them due to concerns about the dangers of a high-speed chase.
Labour’s Marie Sherlock called for an immediate freeze on the use of all scramblers and called for garda road checks to stop and seize these bikes.
While Social Democrat TD Rory Hearne called for gardai to use drones to track scramblers so they can be seized.
FUNERAL DETAILS
Meanwhile, funeral details for tragic Grace were announced this afternoon.
A death notice for Grace published today said: “Tragically, at Connolly Hospital, following an accident.
“Grace will be sadly missed by her heartbroken mam Siobhán, dad Martin, sisters Shauna and her partner Eddie, Brooke and her partner Ran, her little brother Jude, her boyfriend Harry Byrne, grandparents Carol, Stevo and Dolores and the late Arthur Lynch, uncles David, Stephen and Andrew, aunts Rachel, Sharon and Tracy, cousins Holly and Luke, extended family, her classmates in St Michael’s Secondary School, neighbours and friends.”
Grace’s family confirmed her funeral service will take place at St Oliver Plunketts Church in Rivermount at 11am on Friday, followed by burial in Dardistown Cemetery.
