An undercover Garda who posed as a boy-racer at a late night car rally said that if one of the cars performing ‘doughnuts’ spun out of control at the rally, “it would have resulted in carnage”.
At Ennis District Court last night, Det Garda Barry Walsh said that the cruise, organised through Facebook, involved 70 cars and gathered on Lahinch prom in Co Clare on a Friday night, March 7th last.
Before the court were seven participants in the rally and Judge Patrick Durcan banned all seven from driving for six months and fined each €750.
Det Walsh said that the event was organised by the ‘North Clare Cruisers and DIFFS’ and the cruise took in the Cliffs of Moher, Lahinch, Doolin and Corkscrewhill on Lisdoonvarna on March 7th/8th last.
Judge Durcan said that Facebook was used in this instance “for the worst possible purpose”.
The judge said that the events outlined on the night were ‘horrendous’. He said: “What was organised was an illegal and dangerous event.”
Judge Durcan said that he accepted that the seven accused were hard working, educated people from good-backgrounds and all had no previous convictions.
However, the judge accused the seven of being “daft, selfish and showing a complete disregard for others in organising the rally”.
In evidence, Det Walsh said he and a colleague were tasked by local superintendent, Supt Seamus Nolan to carry out surveillance on the event and Judge Durcan said that there was an element of a sting operation to the surveillance.
On the night, Det Walsh was driving a Honda Civic and dressed in plain clothes and said that in one incident, a boy racer performed ‘doughnuts’ around rally organiser, Wayne Danaher (19) of Snipe Lodge, Knockagulla, Lisdoonvarna, at the entrance to the Cliffs of Moher.
At a subsequent interview with Gardaí, Mr Danaher said that he was within a couple of feet of the car performing the doughnuts and admitted that it was very dangerous thing to do.
Det Walsh said that it was extremely dangerous as there were 150 to 200 people looking on at the ‘doughnuts’ and no safety barriers in place.
Det Walsh said that Mr Danaher approached him later at the rally and asked him who he was and where he was from and Det Walsh said in reply “I’m here for the cruise”.
After observing more ‘doughnuts’ on Corkscrewhill near Lisdoonvarna, Det Walsh said that “if the car spun out of control, it would have resulted in carnage”.
On the way to Lisdoonvarna, Det Walsh said that he observed one car overtaking 10 to 12 cars on the convoy.
Insp John Ryan said that the entire incident was extremely reckless, stating that a farmer living near Corkscrewhill “was frightened for his life, had animals calving and was afraid to come out of the house on the night”.
Insp Ryan said that the marks on the road left by the doughnuts had left the road extremely dangerous for other road users, particularly motor cyclists because of the burnt rubber left on the road.
In total, the Clare seven individuals pleaded guilty to offences in connection with the rally. Wayne Danaher, Jennifer Cannavan (20) of Derrymore, Lahinch; Shaun Larkin (27) of Inis Carraig, Ennis,
Sean Keane (19) of Ballyhannon, Quin, Rory Downes (21) Clonakilla, Kilmilhil, Gabriel Weck (20) of Bealcragga, Connolly and Kevin Baker (18) of Finntra, Miltown Malbay.
Mr Danaher and Ms Canavan pleaded guilty to public order offences in connection with the rally with other five pleading guilty to careless driving.
Appeals are to be lodged in all cases.
