Fire service, gardai come under attack at bonfire

Gardaí were called to a "mini riot" after a pre-Halloween bonfire in Slane turned nasty last Friday. Just before midnight at Crainn Daire Brae, Slane, gardaí say a "large group of youths were drinking and causing a disturbance" at a bonfire. The fire service was called to get the bonfire under control but the youths started to throw objects, bottles, stones and fireworks at them. Gardaí were dispatched to break up the drunken mob, which they did, but around 20 minutes later, they re-grouped and attacked a garda patrol car, with one jumping up and down on its bonnet and others hitting it with sticks. When gardaí eventually made the situation safe, one youth had to be subdued with pepper spray and four were arrested - all aged between 17 and 18. Gardaí are also issuing a warning over illegal fireworks after making a large seizeure in Navan last week. Early on Friday morning at Townparks, Navan, off the Commons Road, gardaí executed a warrant on a house and found 40 boxes of fireworks from the Far East. A woman in her 20s is helping gardaí with enquiries. A single box contained around 48 packs with around 10 or 12 individual bangers or fireworks in each pack. A garda source said: "These things don't exactly come with quality control, they could go up in your hand, some of them are totally unreliable." The HSE is also calling on parents and young people to be extra vigilant in relation to safety during the Halloween period. Fireworks are effectively illegal in Ireland (with the exception of licensed displays); most of the illegal fireworks and bangers on sale in markets and from street traders throughout the country are sub-standard and liable to cause injury. "Bonfires are a big part of Halloween and often contain highly combustible materials that can cause respiratory problems and burns. Halloween is the busiest time of the year for the fire services and is extremely hectic for ambulance and hospital services. Parents are advised to ensure their children are aware of the dangers of bonfires and children should be accompanied to official bonfires," the HSE said in a statement. Dr Joe Devlin of the HSE said: "Illegal fireworks are manufactured without safety standards and can cause serious damage to children. "Parents should ensure their children do not play with fireworks. Every year, children end up tragically injured and often scarred for life. Bonfires are also another cause for concern and I would urge parents to make sure that their children do not attend unsupervised bonfires."