Deprivation among young people living in local authority housing with inadequate facilities is being blamed for the continuing high level of car-theft and reckless driving. The two deaths on Monday night underline the problem in Cork.
The lack of green spaces, swimming pools and things to do has prompted the youngsters to seek thrills elsewhere. They steal cars and speed through residential areas, not only, let it be said, on the north side of Cork city, but on the south side, too.
Their exploits have made some of them "heroes". It has not been uncommon to see people queueing along the well-known venues to watch the drivers, often as young as 15, display their "skills" in the stolen cars.
In Cork late on Monday night two more young people died. It brought to four the number of youngsters who have died in the city because of stolen vehicle escapades. It provoked an outcry. People wanted to know why this kind of thing is still going on and why the authorities seem inactive.
But gardai in Cork say everything that can be done is being done. And people do not realise that part of the thrill for the youngsters who steal cars and drive them at speed is to taunt gardai in attempts to get them to give chase. Thus you get "local heroes".
A Cork garda said: "I have two children. I drive a squad car and there is no way I am going to jeopardise their future by chasing these young fellows in stolen cars, who would only want me to crash into them at speed. I have a wife to go home to, and once my shift is over I want to see my kids every day. These guys have no fear and no responsibility."
Ironically, the phenomenon seemed to have been curtailed, and this is because over recent years most of the repeat car thieves have been jailed. But their followers wish to emulate them and do so night after night.
But the loss of two young lives yesterday because three youngsters stole a car in the city centre and then raced it at speed on the Carrigrohane Road, known in Cork as the Straight Road, brought quickly to mind the fact that the problem remains.
The phenomenon appeared to have been controlled in Cork in recent times largely, according to Garda sources, because of more stringent action against them. But it is still the most popular form of night entertainment for youngsters.
Last May, Declan Staunton (21), from Mayfield, died when the stolen car he was in went out of control and plunged into the Lee. The car was driven by a 15 year-old on temporary release from Spike Island prison. He survived.
In March last year Cork northside residents were outraged when two 17-year-olds, Trevor O'Connell and his friend, Stephen Kiely, were struck by a stolen car. They died just one month after an 11-year-old, Christopher O'Flynn, a passenger in a car driven by a non-authorised driver, also died on the north side.
Shane Curtin (11) died last August as his mother drove him home from a funfair. Her car was struck by an oncoming stolen vehicle.