Warning over fireworks

Parents have been asked to take responsibility for their children and not allow them to use fireworks as Halloween approaches.

The call came from Chief Superintendent Barry McPolin this week after concerns were raised during a Cork City Joint Policing Committee meeting about the amount already being heard, with more than five weeks to go until Halloween.

Sinn Féin Cllr Mick Nugent had concerns about the amount of fireworks already in use while his party colleague Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD said he felt that there was more in use this year than any other year.

Chief Superintendent McPolin said: “Halloween is a time when young people go out and enjoy themselves like trick or treating and there is nothing wrong with that, but all know the dangers of fireworks. They can have huge life altering effects on you if they explode near you. The message will be going out locally and nationally that parents will have to take a responsibility for their children and they shouldn’t have or use fireworks for the obvious reasons.

“Gardaí will be patrolling the streets and communities in the run up to Halloween and there will be a strong garda response to it. It is something that is a concern to us and we will be keeping a close eye on it coming up to Halloween. Fireworks are illegal here, but we know that people have means and ways of getting them and maybe have old stock of such lethal weapons and we will be keeping a close eye on it.”