Sir, - I write to draw your attention to the latest form or urban terrorist to visit the streets of our capital. He, or she, strikes without warning, is never caught and is completely indiscriminate in choice of victim.
I refer to bicycle "couriers", usually young people of either sex who use the city's roads, but mostly footpaths, for their terrorism. They are not limited by any rules of the road and are apparently above, or beyond, the law. I, personally, have never seen a garda interfere with their illegal activities - and their numbers are growing daily.
They leave the scenes of their crimes rapidly and with impunity, knowing they cannot be identified.
It is time for these couriers to be properly regulated and made accountable. I call on the Minister for the Environment to bring forward regulations requiring courier companies to register and insure all vehicles used in this type of business, that all bicycles so used be issued with a legible number plate and that these firms be charged an appropriate licence fee for the privilege of using roads as other road users have to. - Yours, etc.,
Douglas Beattie, Priory Road, Delgany, Co Wicklow.