This article is from page 5 of the 2006-09-19 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 5 JPG
SEVERAL terrified children were forced to flee indoors over the weekend as fireworks and bangers exploded in housing estates in Ennis.
Although Halloween is over a month away, gardaí in Ennis received several complaints about bangers on Saturday and Sunday.
Gardaí are warning people who distribute or explode fireworks that they will face prosecution. They are urging parents to take action, in an effort to prevent injury.
Crime Prevention Officer, Sergeant Joe Downey said, “We are warning people that explosives are illegal. You should never throw them at anybody, through doors or at animals. They drive dogs crazy. We are reminding those who are found with fireworks they will be confiscated and people will face prosecution.
“There seems to be a significant amount of them around. People who sell them are driven by greed to make handy money. They are easily got in the North and sold down here,” he said.
He is urging people who become aware of the availability of fireworks or bangers to contact their local Garda station.
Last October, a young girl was taken to hospital with severe burns to her face, after she was hit by a lighted firework, outside St Flannan’s College. The incident occurred when groups of students were waiting to be collected after school. The firework hit the girl on her jacket collar and her face was burnt as a result.
While gardaí said it was not believed to be malicious, it typified the dangers of fireworks and the damage they could potentially cause.