'Totally unpredictable': Public urged to avoid fireworks

Emergency services are advising people not to use illegal fireworks this Halloween.

Bangers, rockets and other fireworks are already being seen and heard in many areas of the country but firefighters and gardaí are warning that fireworks are dangerous and unpredictable and can cause serious injury and damage to people's homes.

Chief Fire Officer with the Dublin Fire Brigade, Greg O'Dwyer, said people often do not know what they are buying.

"These are all illegal fireworks. They don't come from a factory with quality control... and we've seen them go off. Obviously, they go off too early, with a fuse much quicker than people expect, going off in people's hands.

"But we've also seen them going off in young people's pockets without any ignition source, just purely by movement or friction. They're totally unpredictable, and that's what catches people out, and that's what causes these injuries.

"And over the years we've seen some horrific injuries - injuries to people, loss of eyes, fingers, and burns to legs, and all over the body as well."

Mr O'Dwyer said firefighters have also been called to house fires started by fireworks.

"We've seen people having illegal firework displays in their back garden and (fireworks) going through the window of the kitchen or whatever and setting the house on fire."

While fireworks are widely available, they are illegal and gardaí say there are significant penalties for sale or possession for people who are not licenced operators.

Gardaí warning over penalties of imprisonment and fines

Garda Superintendent John Grace said: "The penalties are quite severe. Ultimately, if it's... under indictment, which is in the circuit court, it can lead up to 10 years' imprisonment.

"The district court has a six-month penalty and €3,000 fine. So, it's a very severe penalty, and it's graded at that because of the potential harm that it might cause to the individual themselves, or to the public, or indeed, as we see here today, to animals as well."

Supt Grace said gardaí seize significant quantities of fireworks every year.

"Over the last 10 years… we've seized over 3,000 units of fireworks, and that equates to an approximate street value of €347,000 worth of fireworks. We continue to push forward as best we can in terms of that, and we rely on the support of [the] public. If people come with information [to gardaí], we will act."

The Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said the availability of fireworks is inevitable given the public appetite for them.

"If there is the demand for them that is there, they will get in, and regrettably, they will be used unlawfully.

"But a huge part about this campaign is not just emphasising the illegality of them, but the danger of them, and unless we have buy-in from society to recognise the danger of fireworks, regrettably we're going to see further injuries and further upset caused by them," said Mr O'Callaghan.