By Catriona Gallen

Rally veteran Cathal Curley has dismissed calls by a Strabane priest for rallying to be banned as a "knee jerk" reaction.

"Banning rallying would be like banning Formula One racing, stock car racing, motor bike racing and saloon car racing.

"Calling for the ban is a knee jerk reaction and it just would not be practical," Mr Curley said.

Mr Curley was speaking after the tragic death of 18 year old Richard McGrath at the Donegal Rally at the weekend.

He offered his sincere sympathy to the McGrath family on their tragic loss.

Letterkenny based Rory Kennedy, who has previously won the Donegal International Rally on three occasions and took part this year said the death of Richard McGrath was a tragedy that happened in unbelievable circumstances.

Both the driver of the rally car and the organising club have been exonerated from any blame however, Mr Kennedy said this did not take away from the tragedy of the young man's death.

"As a competitor you would be totally lost for words in a situation like this.

"My heart goes out to his family and to the driver and co-driver. You would think that accidents like this should be avoidable but you can only put so many controls in place.

"More often than not it is the crew that run the risk, not the spectators. I fully support the club's decision to cancel on the day.

"I was competing at a very good level on the day and we fully endorsed the decision to cancel the rally.

"All of the people who follow the rally and tolerate it said the organisers made the right decision," Mr Kennedy said.

Following the death of the teenager, Strabane priest Fr Pat O Hagan called for rallying to be banned, saying suc events were 'practically impossible to secure.'

Fr O Hagan said he didn't regard rallying as a sport.

"I don't call it a sport. I don't know how you can when it is as dangerous as this. We saw that with Robert Dunlop recently.

"I am not blaming the organisers, but looking at it, it seems these events are practically impossible to secure, people will want to get close and get a better view.

"Security must be looked at and if that doesn't work then a ban must be considered."

Responding to Fr O'Hagan's call for the rally to be banned Mr Kennedy said the local priest was perfectly entitled to his opinion but he did not agree with it.

"That is his opinion and he can influence other people by it. I don't think it is a time to make drastic changes. It is more a time to sit back and reflect. I see it totally different to the way he sees it. Mr McGrath's death was a freak accident and the general consensus is that that is what it was," Mr Kennedy added.

In a statement the organisers of the Fiesta Sporting Trophy and Donegal Motor Club said the matter was under investigation.

"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the spectator who died so tragically. The private team concerned is co-operating fully with the Rally organisers in their investigation of the accident."