Stolen car joyriders hit nature trail in Laois housing estate

A stolen car has been driven on a new lakeside walkway in Kilminchy estate in Portlaoise, and left abandoned.

Laois Gardaí have begun an investigation including a forensic examination of the car, a 2013 white Toyota Vitz.

The incident took place on Saturday morning, May 25, a Garda spokesperson confirmed to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

The car was stolen from a home in Millbrook, Portlaoise at 8am. This was reported to Gardaí at 8.40am and the car was recovered in Colliers Way, Kilminchy some hours later.

No arrests have been made yet. Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have seen the car being driven to contact Portlaoise Garda Station.

The trail that the car used in Kilminchy was only recently installed as a nature walkway around Kilminchy lakes, and had already been used by 'joyriders', causing concern for the safety of walkers and residents.

The latest joyriding incident has been condemned by a resident of Kilminchy who is also running for local election. 

Last February, John Cowhig highlighted that the new path was wider than planned, attracting joyriding cars on the nature trail which was built by Laois County Council. Following his alert, boulders were placed by the council on either side of the path.

He now says the law must be toughened to stop such repeat criminal activity.

He spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live, drawing similarities between the damage inflicted by joyriders at The Catholes in the Slieve Bloom Mountains recently, owned by Laois County Council. 

"The Catholes area may be classified as an amenity but nevertheless this amenity is being destroyed without it would seem any consequences for the people involved.

"The common areas of Kilminchy are owned by Kilminchy Homeowners but are suffering similar issues of lawlessness and antisocial behaviour. 

"The Kilminchy Lakes take up a large part of the common grassed and lakes areas owned by the homeowners in Kilminchy.  The common areas are not an amenity area and are privately owned by these homeowners.

"Who other than the Gardai, who are it would seem are always overstretched, will deal with these issues?

"What has been taking place at the Catholes is totally unacceptable and anyone found responsible for what I would class as criminal damage or at least antisocial behaviour should be prosecuted.

"An example should be made of anyone found guilty regarding any proven prosecution made against them.  Legal ramifications are what are needed and should be enforced regarding people who engage in this activity.

"Please could every Government organisation with any power 'bite the bullet' and stop treating people guilty of creating, organising and carrying out these clearly lawless/antisocial issues with the 'Kids Gloves'

"The fundamental issue right from the start with the construction of this trail was the funding request for €30,000 was to build a trail 1.5 metres in width around all three lakes. Instead, what has been built is just a trail around one lake which is more than 1.8 metres wide, hence why cars can drive on it. 

"Homeowners have no idea when the rest of the trail will be built as the deadline for this trail around three lakes to be built is June, three days away.  About a month and a half ago no funding drawdown had been made by Laois County Council. The deadline to drawdown this trail funding is also June," Mr Cowhig said.

Laois County Council had previously explained the delay in installing the full path on poor weather conditions in spring. A further comment is requested.