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A WOMAN WHO was hit by a scrambler bike while out walking her dog has died.
The incident happened in Colin Glen Forest Park in west Belfast on Tuesday evening at around 6pm. The woman, named by police as Valerie Armstrong, was walking her dog in the park at the time that she was hit.
Two males, aged 15 and 17, were detained in connection with the incident, and police appealed for anyone who may have been in the park and seen off-road bikes being used around that time to come forward.
The PSNI said in a tweet last night that Valerie Armstrong died peacefully while surrounded by family.
Superintendent Melanie Jones of the PSNI explained:
“Some scramblers do not comply with vehicle safety standards and are therefore restricted to ‘off-road’ use only because they do not comply with the necessary legislation for use on a public road or in a public place.”
This does not mean they can be driven anywhere ‘off-road’.
Jones added:
We are aware of concerns in the local community about people riding scramblers and quads recklessly, especially in public parks, and I want to assure the public that we will take action to curb the nuisance and dangers associated with the use of off-road scramblers and quads in public areas.
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Horrible news. Parents who gave there kids them scramblers should hang your head in shame.
A 16 year old kid in Dublin got one for christmas last year and was dead by 9am on christmas morning.
welcoming the death of a minor is pretty low
35 year old mother of 3. Terrible and should not have happened.
Its murder plain and simple.. horrible intro into this article.. died peacefully is what youd say about someone who dies of old age, not some young mother out walking minding her own business being hit by some usless clown ona crappy bike.
But yet when you call to report them in your local park all you get is “well there’s not much we can do”.
Translation “I can’t be arsed”
Can’t make excuses for the terrible work but the crappy wage they’re receiving has certainly resulted in the carelessness we’re seeing today. There was a time the gardai were respected. Need to go back to those days.
Don’t think they have Garda in Belfast
R.I.P ..
She was from rochfortbridge CO Westmeath originally. so sad
The only reason these are allowed is because there is no revenue to be made from stopping them. Hopefully they will use her passing to end this completely in your face law breaking and public danger how may times I have see a small toddler running around while these fly around the parks the kid would not have chance.
If they can campaigning for speed limits to be lower due to that kid passing away, same should be done on this more serious matter.
Thoughts with this lady and her loved ones.
Gobs…tes on bikes and that will reinforce a bad image of anyone on a bike then, the focus will be on them than the victim as the media can do that sometimes? It is murder by a bike, by those who do not know how to handle one and who seemed not to care once they have their fun either?
She died peacefully? That’s an incongruous way to describe the whole situation.
have your say