Gardaí have urged people to have “a bit of cop” on Ireland’s roads following the discovery of a 13-year-old behind the wheel of a car in Co Waterford on Thursday.
In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) the Garda road traffic account detailed how gardaí on a routine patrol in the southeast passed vehicle which was being driven by someone who was suspiciously childlike.
“They remarked to one another about how strikingly young looking the driver appeared to be and decided to stop the car,” the post said.
It quickly emerged that their suspicions were entirely justified.
Housing in Ireland is among the most expensive and most affordable in the EU. How does that happen?
Ceann comhairle election key task as 34th Dáil convenes for first time
Your EV questions answered: Am I better to drive my 13-year-old diesel until it dies than buy a new EV?
Workplace wrangles: Staying on the right side of your HR department, and more labrynthine aspects of employment law
“Gardaí then discovered that the driver was just 13 years of age and the two passengers in the car were the boy’s parents,” the social media post continued.
When asked what was going on, the gardaí were told that the family were “just out for a spin”.
Whatever the reason for the journey, it was against the law not least because a person has to be 17 before they can apply for a provisional driving licence.
The owner of the car is set to be brought before the courts while a Garda Juvenile Liaison Officer has been appointed to the boy.
“Have a bit of cop,” the X post concluded.
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Find The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Our In The News podcast is now published daily – Find the latest episode here
