Gardaí have been urged to “clamp down” on people using fireworks in the run up to Halloween. 

Only people with a licence can use fireworks in the Republic of Ireland; however, they are much more freely sold in Northern Ireland and often end up down south. 

Speaking to Lunchtime Live, Dublin City Councillor Mannix Flynn said the issue of fireworks is “no laughing matter” and many of his constituents “dread this time of year”. 

“Fireworks, rockets in particular, are used to assault people,” he said. 

“There was a serious incident on the canal sometime back… where an individual was literally attacked walking his dog with rockets and he had to run for cover. 

“This is a normal situation in the city, in the blocks of flats and on the streets of Dublin coming up to Halloween.” 

Daisy loves dressing up at #Halloween but can’t enjoy it like the rest of us due to fireworks. They make her really frightened and could cause her serious injuries if she was hit by one.

Fireworks are illegal. #Garda #TuesdayThoughts #ThinkOfDaisy pic.twitter.com/gyG8BZkjPo

— Garda Info (@gardainfo) October 23, 2018

Cllr Flynn said despite being illegal, “no one really gets prosecuted” for using fireworks and he believes the Government should make it a more serious offence. 

“I want to see fireworks, which is a gunpowder, brought in under the Firearms Act,” he said. 

“So, if there is a situation here and someone has one in their possession, they understand the consequences. 

“At the moment, it’s laissez faire.” 

'Like if you were caught with a knife'

Cllr Flynn said Gardaí have previously taken a tough approach on people building bonfires and thinks they should do the same with fireworks. 

“Now, we really need to clamp down on fireworks,” he said. 

“It’s illegal to have them in this State, it’s illegal to have them in the Republic but also, on top of that, we need to actually make it an offence under the Firearms Act - like if you were caught with a knife. 

“It’s a dangerous weapon.” 

You can listen back here:

Main image: Fireworks. Image: Jim Zuckerman / Alamy Stock Photo