Shocking week of carnage on Carlow roads

TWO serious road traffic collisions in the space of two days have prompted An Garda Síochána to renew its appeal for e-scooter safety in Carlow town, as one man fights for his life in intensive care and a motorcyclist remains in hospital with serious injuries.

The first incident occurred on the morning of Tuesday 7 July, when a man in his 20s was seriously injured in a single-person e-scooter accident on the Castlecomer Road, between Chaff Street and Mount Clare Court in Graiguecullen. He was airlifted to a Dublin hospital, with the air ambulance landing on the grounds of nearby St Patrick’s Boys Athletic Football Club. He was reported to have suffered serious head injuries.

The man was later identified at Carlow District Court as Jack Doyle, who had been due to attend a hearing on Thursday 9 July. His solicitor, Chris Hogan, told the court that his client was in intensive care and on life support. While acknowledging that Mr Doyle had past run-ins with the law, Mr Hogan said he had recently been “getting his life on track”.

Judge Geraldine Carthy, who was visibly moved by the news, ordered the charge against Mr Doyle to be struck out.

The following morning, Wednesday 8 July, on Chaff Street, a man in his 30s was seriously injured when a black Ford Ranger pick-up truck mowed down the motorcycle he was on. The truck had been reported stolen in the Rathcoole area of Co Dublin in the early hours and was spotted by gardaí on mobile patrol earlier that morning. The truck failed to stop and left the scene of the collision with gardaí in pursuit. The motorcyclist was taken to Cork University Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

Four male juvenile teenagers were arrested at the scene and detained at Carlow Garda Station. An Garda Síochána referred the incident to Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, for investigation.

The four teenagers have since been released from custody without charge. It is understood that investigations are ongoing and the director of public prosecutions is preparing a file of evidence for prosecution.

The collisions come just over a week after Janis Ghirghircic Ozols (17), Willow Park, Carlow town died after falling from an e-scooter on Carpenters Way. His funeral Mass took place on Monday 6 July in Holy Family Church, Askea, where parish priest Fr Thomas Little appealed to the Road Safety Authority to improve safety around e-scooters.

The Road Safety Authority has itself appealed to parents not to buy such vehicles for their children, saying it is extremely concerned about the high number of serious injuries caused by collisions involving them. Doctors at Temple Street Children’s Hospital have highlighted the dangers, saying six children were on life support there in recent weeks due to incidents related to e-scooters.

“E-scooters are a valuable mode of transport. I ask people to respect the power of these machines, especially their drivers, and be careful when using them on the roads,” said Supt Anthony Farrell of An Garda Síochána in Carlow. “While wearing a helmet on a standard, compliant e-scooter is not legally mandatory, it is strongly recommended. Stay safe.” 

Carlow gardaí noted “the rapid evolution” of e-scooters from recreational toys to a genuine mode of transport, particularly over the last two years, which, they say, has been accompanied by a rise in reported incidents, including collisions and near misses.

They appealed in particular to young people to be aware of the laws surrounding e-scooters and asked parents and those in positions of responsibility to educate young people on the dangers these machines can pose (see also story on opposite page).