Anger at boy racers at Derrylaughan primary school

RESIDENTS in the Derrylaughan area have expressed dismay at suspected boy racers rallying cars and performing handbrake turns in the vicinity of a primary school.

The dangerous manoeuvres have been going on at different times of the day, including shortly before 9.30am on Tuesday morning when some of the children were still making their way to school.

They have been regularly speeding along the Coole Road past Holy Family Primary School in Aughamullan and turning onto the Washingbay Road. Residents have reported hearing the screeching of the vehicles in the mornings and afternoons.

Local councillor Malachy Quinn has called on those responsible to cease before “someone is killed”. He told the Herald that he has reported the indents to the PSNI in a bid to curb the reckless driving.

Cllr Quinn said, “They have been speeding past the school and doing handbrake turns at the junction like they are in a rally. It is appalling. We don’t know who they are but they need to stop. There is a very small wall in front of Aughamullan Primary School and if a car goes out of control the consequences don’t bear thinking about.

“It is frightening. I am reminded of that road safety advertisement when the car rolled off the road towards a crowd of children playing football. It would not take much for a driver rallying down that road to lose control and go into the school yard.”

Describing the behaviour as “total idiocy” the local councillor added, “They are speeding by at irregular times and people hear the screeching of brakes. I have contacted the PSNI to see can they stop it. Of all the places to speed and perform handbrake turns, I can’t think of anywhere more dangerous.”