'Absolutely terrifying': Motorist caught up in Limerick sulky race

A SULKY race in Limerick showed "complete contempt for people using the roads" and "was like an unauthorised race in Louisville, Kentucky", according to politicians.

One motorist who came upon the sulky race on the N20 Limerick-Cork road at around 2pm on Sunday said it was "absolutely terrifying". Mobile phone footage shows men hanging out of cars, jeeps and vans while the sulky race takes place in their midst. The clip has been widely shared on social media.

The entourage of vehicles are four-wide, including driving on the hard shoulder on the wrong side of the road. Cars heading towards Cork had to squeeze through the multiple vehicles and sulky racers.

The driver of one of those cars said it was "absolutely terrifying".

"Driving 100kmph to suddenly see four lines of cars coming at me. Two small kids asleep in the back seat. This needs to be stopped," they said.

Ministers of State Niall Collins and Patrick O'Donovan have also spoken out.

Mr Collins said it was a "disgraceful display of lawlessness and complete disregard for road users and their safety".

"If the gardai can identify any of the persons involved they should face the full force of the law. This behaviour shows complete contempt for people using the roads on a Sunday afternoon," said Mr Collins.

Mr O'Donovan said "these people have no regard for law nor man".

"It was sent to me by five or six different people. It was like an unauthorised race you'd see in Louisville, Kentucky or something like that. These people think they are above the law and they are acting with total impunity.

"The registration plates are - thanks to whichever one of their comrades was WhatsApping it thinking it was a great laugh - are identifiable but most of the drivers are identifiable. I've already been in touch with the guards about it," said Mr O'Donovan.

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The minister for state described it as "totally reckless and absolute endangerment".

"It's the worst form of thuggery and it doesn't in anyway connect to any way to anybody's culture, identity or their sporting capacity. It is just blatant criminality. It shouldn't be labelled as anything else. It's just absolute, total and utter criminality and it needs to be seen for that," said Mr O'Donovan.

Gardaí in Croom were alerted to alleged incidents of sulky racing on the N20 in Croom on Sunday.

"During the course of the day, a number of reports were received by gardaí in relation to sulky racing on the N20, Croom. Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to any of these incidents to come forward.

"In particular, gardaí are appealing to any road users travelling on the N20 in Croom on Sunday, November 12, who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) to make this available to them," said a garda spokesperson.

Any persons who observed any unusual activity on the N20 in Croom are also asked to come forward. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Newcastle West garda station on 069 20650, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.