Toddler injured by firework as Halloween chaos sparks outrage across Tyrone
BONFIRES, fireworks and attacks on emergency crews leave communities counting the cost of Halloween recklessness
A TODDLER was rushed to hospital after being struck by an exploding firework in Carrickmore, while a teenager was left unconscious after falling into a bonfire in Strabane during a night of Halloween-related disorder across Tyrone.
The disturbing incidents have prompted renewed concerns about the dangers of irresponsible firework use and bonfires, with emergency services also coming under attack as they responded to incidents over the Halloween weekend.
In Carrickmore, a girl aged under two sustained a burn to her forearm after a firework was thrown onto the road outside a filling station on Main Street at around 8.30pm on Saturday.
The toddler was with her parents when the firework, reportedly thrown by teenage boys, partially exploded before bouncing back and detonating a second time beside her.
Police Inspector McDonagh said the child required hospital treatment and warned that the consequences could have been considerably worse.
"It's only by sheer luck that the consequences of this reckless act weren't even more serious," he said.
"The irresponsibility of throwing fireworks near a petrol station is shocking."
Meanwhile, in Strabane, a teenager was knocked unconscious before falling into a bonfire at Bradley Way on Halloween night.
The incident has caused shock and disgust in the local community, with Sinn Féin councillor Fergal Leonard, a member of Derry City and Strabane District Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) and a former senior fire officer, expressing concern at what happened.
He said the thoughts of the community were first and foremost with the injured teenager and his family, expressing hope that he would make a full recovery from both his physical injuries and the mental trauma of the ordeal.
Mr Leonard also paid tribute to a young girl who immediately went to the teenager's aid and pulled him from the fire.
He said her actions deserved the utmost praise, adding that without her intervention the victim's injuries could have been even more serious.
"No one could have predicted such a cowardly attack and or its devastating consequences," he said.
However, Mr Leonard warned that the incident highlighted the dangers associated with bonfires, stressing that there was no such thing as a completely safe bonfire.
He urged people attending bonfires to maintain a safe distance from the flames, respect cordons and follow safety guidance.
He also emphasised the importance of supervising young children at all times and keeping pets and animals away from fires.
The dangers were further highlighted in Drumquin, where fireworks were deliberately directed at firefighters attending incidents.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) confirmed that its crews were targeted in six separate incidents across Northern Ireland, including in Drumquin and Enniskillen.
Although no damage or injuries were reported in those incidents, the attacks were described as dangerous and completely unacceptable.
A NIFRS spokesperson said the service had responded to 89 incidents across Northern Ireland, with 23 occurring between 6pm on Saturday and 1am on Sunday. Many were Halloween-related.
The spokesperson said: "We cannot emphasise enough how dangerous fireworks are as they can result in life changing injuries if used inappropriately.
"We acknowledge these incidents were isolated to a small minority of individuals, but this antisocial behaviour could have had devastating consequences."
The service confirmed that, despite the attacks, operational cover for local communities had been maintained throughout.
The incidents formed part of a wider night of Halloween celebrations across Northern Ireland, including the major festival in Londonderry.
However, the injuries suffered by the young victims in Carrickmore and Strabane, alongside the targeting of firefighters in Drumquin, have cast a shadow over the festivities.
They have also underlined the potentially devastating consequences of reckless behaviour involving fireworks and bonfires, with innocent members of the public and those working to protect communities placed at risk.