A nationwide awareness campaign to warn against serious risks posed by illegal fireworks, at this time of year, has been launched by the Irish government.
Fines of up to €10,000 and 5 years’ imprisonment is applied to those having fireworks in their possession with intent to sell or supply, or if convicted of throwing an ignited firework at any person or property.
This Campaign has been launched in collaboration with An Garda Síochána, the Irish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA), Irish Guide Dogs, and Dublin Fire Brigade. Representatives from the National Office for Community Safety were also in attendance.
While Halloween can be an enjoyable time for local communities, everyone knows the distress the use of such fireworks can cause around this time of year, be they be illegal or not.
Those who use fireworks don’t always fully consider the harmful effect they can have in their local areas and on their neighbours. Fireworks pose a real risk to the health and safety of young people, the elderly and the vulnerable. They also terrify family pets, service dogs, roosting bird life and other animals.
The penalties people face for misusing fireworks show how seriously this kind of behaviour is taken. People are urged to think hard before they use fireworks this year and to consider those who are indirectly impacted by their actions over the Halloween period.
Fire Brigade officials warn of the devastating physical injuries fireworks can cause and urge people to only attend officially organised fireworks displays this Halloween.
Injuries caused by fireworks can going off in some young person’s pocket, can severely burn their leg, or explode in their hands, causing disfigurement to their fingers, or even as projectiles from bonfires, striking them in the face, and causing serious facial and eye injuries. These types of injuries are all potentially life-changing, or even worse.
Irish Guide Dog officials, have highlighted the dangers Halloween poses for Guide and Assistance Dogs and their owners, and while their dogs are highly trained to cope with stress, the anxiety caused by fireworks is beyond what any dog can reasonably endure. In some cases, despite every effort, the trauma is too great, and the dog has to be withdrawn. The owner then faces a profound loss of independence and mobility, while waiting through a lengthy process to be matched with another suitable dog.
Also, the senses of smell and hearing by dogs are far more sensitive in most animals than in humans as they can hear at different frequencies than humans. The strange sight, sound and smell of fireworks can be extremely distressing for them.
Frightened pregnant female horses (Mares) can also take fright, resulting often in the loss of their off-spring.
Operation Tombola combats the importation, sale and distribution of illegal fireworks, through intelligence led operations, visits to local car boot sales, searches and seizures of fireworks, as well as focusing on preventing associated public disorder and anti-social behaviour through the incremental deployment of resources.
Fireworks are illegal, and young people especially need to be fully aware that it is a criminal offence to throw or direct any ignited firework at a person or property. To this end Community Policing Gardaí in the coming days will be visiting schools to speak with children about the dangers and criminal offences associated with fireworks.
If people have information relating to the sale or supply illegal or unlicensed fireworks, Gardaí are inviting them to please contact their local Garda Station (Thurles – Tel: 0504 25100) or the Garda Confidential Line (Tel: 1800 666 111).
Pet owners can follow HERE for advice on how to ensure their furry friends feel safe and secure,
and to ensure all animals remain safe this coming Halloween.
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