Gardaí issue Halloween safety appeal against illegal fireworks and bonfires
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Gardaí have appealed to those planning to use illegal fireworks or bonfires during Halloween festivities in the coming days to consider the dangers and environmental effects before participating.
Operation Tombola, the nationwide effort to prevent and detect the sale of fireworks and address associated public order and anti-social behavior during Halloween, will again be active to monitor festivities.
Over the past decade, Gardaí have seized 1,218 explosives under Operation Tombola, with a combined value of €225,000. These seizures have contributed to reducing the harm associated with their illegal use.
As much of the country prepares for Halloween activities on Thursday night, Gardaí have issued a series of safety tips to help the public enjoy the celebrations safely.
Gardaí advise that children should be accompanied by an adult while trick-or-treating and that they should do so in well-lit areas to ensure visibility and safety.
The public is also reminded that it is a criminal offence to throw fireworks in the street or in other public places. Throwing items such as eggs and flour may also be considered vandalism or criminal damage.
Superintendent Ann-Marie Twomey said those attempting to profit from the sale of illegal fireworks are being targeted by Gardaí nationwide.
"As always, we prioritise the safety of young people and the wider community. If you are celebrating Halloween this year, we want you to safely enjoy the night and we’re asking young people in particular to please be sensible," she said.
"You can get into the spirit of Halloween without causing distress to others, potentially endangering yourself by using illegal fireworks or doing anything potentially criminal that will get you into bother.”
An Garda Síochána is also asking drivers to slow down and exercise extra caution over the next 48 hours, as more people, including small children, will be out on the roads.
"If you, or a friend or someone in your group becomes in danger or in an emergency at any time during Halloween, please call 999/112 for our assistance and that of other frontline services,"
"Should anyone feel unsafe or in danger in their home, we ask that they please call 999/112 and we will support them,"
Assistant Chief Fire Officer with Dublin Fire Brigade Greg O'Dwyer said his crew are preparing for their busiest night of the year, with numerous serious incidents and accidents expected as a result of fireworks and bonfires.
Last Halloween, the service received approximately 250 fire-related calls, as well as 390 ambulance calls.
The brigade have enlisted a high volume of staff to take on these calls this year, Mr O'Dwyer told RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland.
"Fireworks do cause a lot of injuries. The biggest danger around bonfires is projectiles, the hidden dangers within the bonfire itself, gas cylinders shooting out of the bonfire like missiles," he said.
The expected injuries include damage to the upper body and hands as a result of fireworks being set off, he said.
"Fireworks are illegal and they're illegal for a reason because there's no quality assurance around these illegally imported fireworks.
"They go off prematurely in young peoples' hands, they've even gone off in peoples' pockets without ignition, just by friction,"
"They cause life changing injuries - disfigurement of hands and fingers, injuries to the face, burns, eye injuries," he said.