Anti-social ‘joyriding’ making life ‘hell’ for Dunboyne locals

Residents claim cars ‘drifting’ and speeding in and from train station carpark

Cars revving, doing ‘donuts’ and drifting late at night in the carpark of Dunboyne railway station is “making life hell” for local residents, it's been claimed.

“It is a joyrider's paradise and up until recently was also used for dumping,” says Cllr Damien O'Reilly who said the activity is happening within 50 metres of a large number of houses.

“This is happening at both Dunboyne railway station and at the M3 Parkway. It is terrible for the residents living nearby,” he said.

One man who asked not to be named said the incidents took a potentially dangerous turn last week.

"On Tuesday and Wednesday night in Dunboyne train station there was a gathering of noisy cars tearing around the car park for hours.

"It took a dangerous twist on Wednesday night. I witnessed at least four cars speeding from the train station towards Clonee and overtaking each other in front of my house, returning and going at it several times between 11.15 and 12 midnight. It was an accident waiting to happen."

Another resident who lives close to the Dunboyne railway station said his quiet Christmas was interrupted on an almost nightly basis by anti-social ‘joy riding’ in Dunboyne train station carpark.

"The Gardaí are too under resourced to deal with this and it is questionable what they can do as the train station car park is private property.

"In my opinion the onus is on Irish Rail to close this car park in the evenings after the last train.

"This however would not completely solve this problem as this behaviour frequently starts before the last train arrives at 1130. The lay out of the carpark is certainly part of the problem.

"The people partaking in this anti-social behaviour are brazenly boasting about it and the numbers participating are increasing. There are a significant number of families living within 50 metres of this and it is unfair and unjust that this be tolerated," he said.

"I am worried that Dunboyne will become the place these people descend on.

"They are very open and brazen about what they are doing on Facebook and social media."

Cllr O'Reilly said the situation was a nightmare for local residents. “The noise is awful at night and it is particularly hard for people with babies and young children and for the elderly. It is really affecting their quality of life.

“These gatherings are organised by Facebook groups and on WhatsApp."

“If Irish Rail hadn't turned the Dunboyne Railway Station car park into a disused car park by introducing paid parking, this wouldn't be happening.

“It is as if the entire €130million infrastructure project of the Clonsilla to Dunboyne rail line is being left to rot by Irish Rail.

"As well as the parking, it is not marketed properly and a lot of people don't know about the connection to the DART," he said.

Iarnrod Eireann have been approached for comment.