GAA club ‘unanimously’ bans e-scooters & electric bikes from grounds in ‘reduce risks’ bid after Grace Lynch death

A GAA club has decided “unanimously” to ban e-scooters and electric bikes from its grounds.

The move is part of an effort to keep young members in a safe environment.

The executive committee of Erin’s Isle GAA Club in Dublin’s Finglas decided on Saturday to ban e-scooters and electric bikes with “immediate effect”, adding that children with such vehicles seen on the premises will be asked to leave.

The club’s juvenile chairman Paul Varszegi said the decision was taken to keep young people in the community safe.

There have been a number of near misses in the club grounds during the winter months and the community has been hit hard by the death of Grace Lynch who was hit by a scrambler bike in the area in January.

Many of Grace’s friends are members at the club.

Paul said: “About 80 per cent of kids around here have an e-scooter or electric bike.

“Many of them are travelling at speeds of up to 50kph and I’ve yet to see any of them wearing a helmet.

“We just want to reduce the risks to our juveniles, so when I proposed the ban to the executive, they all agreed immediately.”

Paul says they want to get the kids back on bikes or walking to the club with a hurl or a football in hand, adding: “We have bike stations for bikes and the majority of our members are within walking distance from the club.”

He said the club will police the ban themselves and anyone seen on the motorised vehicles will be asked to leave.