ABOUT 600 people attended a meeting in Cork last night to discuss the deaths of two teenagers who were hit by a stolen car in the city on St Patrick's night.
A small number of people spoke harshly against the political parties and demanded to know what the politicians present intended doing about the problem of young people stealing cars and driving them at high speed.
The meeting was organised by People Against Killer Drivers. Mrs Breda Horgan, who along with Mrs Margaret Ahern was responsible for setting up the group, said the gathering was non-political.
"This is a peaceful meeting. Do not make a circus of it tonight, do not use our meeting as a circus out of respect to the families of the dead boys," she said.
She and Mrs Ahern said people must unite to ensure there were no further such deaths.
"A lack of major public reaction to this tragedy could be interpreted as toleration by those responsible," said Mrs Ahern, who lives in the same estate as did the dead boys, Trevor O'Connell and Stephen Kirby.
She called on the Government to set up a task force of the relevant bodies - including community representatives - to draw up a strategy. "We are not going to let this issue die like our two boys," she said.
They have called on the public to join a peace march at 3.30 p.m. on Friday from Daunt Square to the City Hall, and to bring candles.
After the meeting in Na Piarsaigh GAA hall, just yards from where the two boys were hit by the car, Councillor Noel O'Flynn said everyone was united in grief and sorrow and was drawing strength from the two women organisers.
Ms Mairin Quill TD said she would support the women's demand for a task force.
Mr Brendan Barry of the local residents' association, who chaired the meeting, urged people to join their local community association and take action to stop people driving stolen cars at speed throughout the city.
People should form themselves into groups to mind their streets, but he did not advocate any kind of vigilantism, he said.