Dear Editor,
Each year many children and young persons suffer terrible injuries caused by fireworks, including burns, loss of limbs and serious eye injuries.
It should be borne in mind that the sale, possession or use of fireworks should be illegal. Many of the fireworks that are offered for sale probably have not passed any quality control tests and are possibly defective.
Any persons found possessing fireworks should be held liable to prosecution. In addition there should be a specific offence throwing any ignited fireworks in public places. The only exception could be that “professional” type fireworks display is authorized under permit.
Apart from the risk of injury, fireworks can cause great distress and annoyance to elderly residents. They can set off intruder alarms, causing unnecessary extra demands on Garda (security) resources. They can also cause great distress to family pets and animals. Finally, there is always the possibility of outbreaks of fire in property if fireworks such as “rockets” continue to burn after landing.
We ask parents, government and teachers to be responsible in ensuring that children do not cause injury to either themselves or others on the already passed holidays season. If you possess bangers/fireworks please take the necessary precautions.
After more than four weeks of allowed use of big bangers, it’s clear that the use of these terrible explosives is going to continue beyond control.
Name withheld at author’s request.
