‘Dangerous fireworks’ skimmed along ground in front of kids in ‘scary’ Waterford incident

“Dangerous fireworks” skimmed along the ground in front of children in a “scary” incident in County Waterford, a council meeting has heard.

The incident occurred at Gallows Hill in Dungarvan on Halloween night.

Labour Party councillor Thomas Phelan spoke on the subject at the November meeting of the Dungarvan-Lismore District.

Cllr Phelan said: “Under the community heading of the housing directorate, I want to return to Gallows Hill.

“It was the site not just for a bonfire on Halloween night but also dangerous fireworks.

“I’m wondering if the council can engage with the Community Safety Partnership and arrange a public fireworks display to attract people to that instead of going to places like Gallows Hill.”

While Cllr Phelan said that such incidents are not unique to Gallows Hill, he said what he witnessed there on Halloween was particularly alarming.

“[It’s] not just Gallows Hill but I never saw anything like the amount of fireworks being set off there on Halloween. They’re just so dangerous.

“When I was up in Gallows Hill, there was some skimming along the ground in front of children and they were going over and back the top of the hill.

“It was scary in fact so I think if we put something on that’s properly organised and safe, I think that might draw people away from the illegal firework displays.”

He concluded by asking the council executive to examine the possibility of organising such an event.

Independent councillor Joe O’Riordan subsequently stated his opposition to this proposal.

Cllr O’Riordan said: “Just to come in on the fireworks again, personally I’d be against a public fireworks display.

“A lot of people are going away from public firework displays now because animals suffer greatly from fireworks.

“This is a problem that we have leading up to Halloween. Every night of the week there’s fireworks being left off.

“There’s poor dogs around the place that are terrified for nights on end.”

He instead called for an increased garda presence in the town to tackle such incidents of anti-social behaviour.

“The question I’d ask is when was the last time anyone saw a garda walking the beat in Dungarvan at night.

“I haven’t seen it for years so just to think of incidents like when those young fellas left off a rocket from outside the post office into the square.

“That sort of carry on, if there was a physical presence of gardaí in the town at Halloween times and a bit of pro-active action taken, I think it would reduce the problem greatly.”

Cllr O’Riordan concluded by reiterating his opposition to a public fireworks display.

In response to the two councillors, Walter Holden, Senior Architect at Waterford City and County Council, said he would bring their comments back to the council’s community section.