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Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is to crack down on the illegal use of scramblers due to public safety fears and the sinister use of youths for “drug runs” in the district.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s Active and Healthy Communities committee on 18 May approved a strategy to tackle the “scourge” of off-roaders, including E-scooters and quad bikes.
New joint patrols of PSNI officers and community volunteers could look to confiscate the vehicles in order to prevent a further fatal tragedy such as that of Dublin teenager Grace Lynch earlier this year.
Bringing forward the motion, Newry City councillor Aidan Mathers said: “This council will actively engage with policy and the community to enforce this policy.
“It calls on the council to develop and enforce an implementation plan in collaboration with the PSNI and local stakeholders.
“This includes regular joint patrols in known hotspot areas and clear reporting pathways for residents to raise concerns."
He added: “There is a very real and growing concern across our district.
“We are all aware of the widespread anxiety caused by illegal and dangerous use of scramblers and other off-road vehicles.
“They are causing fear and intimidation and people are afraid to speak out.
“There is a very real risk to public safety, which we see throughout Ireland and recently in Dublin with Grace Lynch, who lost her life after being hit by a scrambler.
“I’ve witnessed the driver of a scrambler in Newry speeding without a helmet and, more alarming, a passenger no older than 12 with no safety gear on.
“The potential of a real tragedy doesn’t bear thinking about.
“As we head into the summer months this issue is only going to increase, so we need to tackle it now. These vehicles should be confiscated when possible.”
Grace Lynch, 16, died in January after being hit in Finglas, Co Dublin, with her family campaigning for stronger laws in her name.
In March, Grace’s Law came into effect to ban scramblers from all public spaces in the Republic of Ireland.
In Northern Ireland, scramblers are mostly illegal on public roads and spaces, but are not subject to a blanket ban.
One Newry.ie reader recently expressed concern about the volume of scramblers being used on the WIN stretch of the towpath. "I've noticed a big increase in use by young people in the last few months and with the better weather upon us, I have concern that someone is going to get hurt (rider or pedestrian), as the foot traffic has gotten busier." they said.
Mournes councillor Jill Truesdale said:”I do think we are playing catch-up with this.
“I was talking to the police as we have scramblers being used to do drug runs, it is young adults, it is not kids.
“But the problem the police have is that they can’t run the risk of chasing the person in case it is a child and there ends up being an accident.
“And nine times out of 10 they have to give back the vehicle and cannot confiscate them, which is very frustrating.
“We know the Justice Minister (Naomi Long) is currently working on closing legislative gaps and strengthening powers.
“We all need to work with the police, but maybe there is something higher up we can do about how these vehicles are getting into Northern Ireland, they are an absolute scourge.”
Rowallane councillor Jonathan Jackson added: “We do have to focus on the age of a lot of these kids involved in this activity.
“And we need to look at how we can educate some of the parents of these people and make them realise what they are doing is obviously breaking the law.”
Newry City councillor Doire Finn said: “From speaking to the PSNI, this is a problem where some of the parents are purchasing these vehicles for their children who are using them.
“How are we going to communicate with these parents?”
A council officer responded: “We are aware that a lot of these scooters are being bought and there is not a full understanding of where they can or can’t be used.
“We will liaise with our marketing department on a campaign to target all of the areas on education and awareness.
“Certainly, working with the parents would be key to all of this.”
At the Full Council Meeting on 13 April 2026 Councillor Mathers tabled the following Notice of Motion:
That this Council notes the ongoing and widespread community concern regarding the dangerous and unauthorised use of scramblers, quad bikes and other off road vehicles on Council owned land, open spaces, parks and public pathways; that our parks and public spaces are vital resources for the people of Newry, Mourne and Down, and should be protected, enhanced and kept safe for people; the increased risk these vehicles post to members of the public, including children, older people, dog walkers and other users of shared public spaces; the sometimes considerable damage casued to green spaces and sports pitches by repeated off road vehicle activity and the negative effect this has on biodiversity and our local environment; that existing legislation which restricts the use of mechanically propelled vehicles on land without the landowner's permission.
This Council will actively engage with policy and the community to enforce this policy; audit all parks that are currently being used by these vehicles to ensure that entrance and exit points are properly secured and access to these sites are safe and pedestrian friendly.
Calls on the Council to develop and enforce an implementation plan in collaboration with the PSNI and local stakeholders, including:
* Regular joint operations and patrols in hotspot areas
*Clear reporting pathways for the public
*Use of signage and all other appropriate deterrent measures.
