Gardaí in the midlands have broken up a gathering of 300 motorists in a car park in Offaly and appealed to young drivers to stay away from so-called "car meets".
Tullamore gardaí say they carried out a checkpoint for over two hours last night outside a car park at the Aldi store in Tullamore to disperse a car meet. There were more than 300 young people gathered in the area.
"Covid compliance was not the order of the day," a garda source said.
A number of fixed charge penalties were issued for a variety of offences including speeding, and a number of vehicles were seized.
Gardaí have appealed to young motorists not to engage in repeat events of this nature.
"Please refrain from this activity," a spokesperson said. "It is short-sighted and you really are not helping us at all."
