The cars used during a dangerous and reckless race in a west Dublin community last night were left to burn in the local park following the shocking scenes.
A garda vehicle was rammed during the carnage which saw two cars racing dangerously while crowds looked on and cheered. While there were no injuries reported, gardai were appealing to witnesses to come forward last night.
Footage of the incident shows the cars racing up and down Cherry Orchard before one of them rams a garda car twice. Onlookers could be heard shouting "there's garda, ram them" as the garda car arrives on the scene.
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Local Sinn Fein councillor Daithi Doolan, who is chairperson of the Joint Policing Committee in Dublin South Central, slammed the scenes last night. He said the community has been "ignored for too long" by Government and senior gardai.
He told Dublin Live last night: "Tonight's violence in Cherry Orchard must serve as a wake up call to the Government and senior Gardaí. This community has been ignored for too long. It urgently needs resources and support to tackle this lawlessness.
"Tonight robbed cars terrorised Cherry Orchard residents from early evening. When Gardaí arrived their car was rammed a number of times and had to leave the scene. The cars continued to be driven recklessly on the road and were then burnt out in the local park. This was a terrifying ordeal for local residents.
"This nightly violence has to come to an end. Garda Assistant Commissioner for Dublin Angela Willis must deploy extra Gardaí and resources to Ballyfermot. Otherwise I am deeply concerned this great community will be abandoned to a very small group of criminals."
He continued: "I would appeal to the community, Dublin City Council, youth workers, other politicians and the Gardaí to work together to put solutions in place and pull the community back from the edge. We urgently need the Government to work with us and support our plan for Cherry Orchard and turn the situation around before it is too late."
The incident has also been condemned by Fianna Fail TD Cormac Devlin who called the scenes "utter lawlessness". He continued the call for more resources and support.
Read more: Footage shows dangerous scenes in Dublin as garda car rammed by reckless racers
He said: "This is evidence of the shocking incidents Gardaí are forced to deal with as a small proportion of people terrorise a whole community. We have to come down much stronger on what is pure lawlessness happening across the capital, and back the Gardaí with the resources and legislation to deal with those who behave with no regard for law or life. My thoughts are with the Gardaí having to deal with those incidents this evening as well as the majority of good people being terrorised by these thugs."
A garda spokesman told Dublin Live: "Gardaí responded to reports of dangerous driving in the Cherry Orchard area. Upon arrival Gardaí observed two vehicles driving erratically.
"Both vehicles failed to stop when requested to do so by Gardaí and one vehicle collided with an official Garda vehicle. No injuries were reported during the incident.
"Gardaí are appealing to any member of the public who may have witnessed this incident to come forward. Gardaí are also appealing to anyone who was travelling in the Cherry Orchard area at this time, who may have camera (dash cam) footage to make this available to investigating Gardaí.
"Anyone with any information in relation to this incident should contact Ballyfermot Garda Station on 01 666 7200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station. Investigations are ongoing."
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