A twelve-year-old boy from Northern Ireland has been hospitalised with serious damage to his eye after being hit by a firework last Saturday evening. The event took place around 8:30 pm in the region of Stewartstown Road, Dunmurry, close to Belfast. The act has been deemed as “a reckless assault” by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
PSNI Chief Inspector Louise Dunne reported that the minor had been attacked with a firework by a group of youngsters nearby. Following the occurrence, the victim was promptly admitted to the hospital due to a grave injury to his eye. The horrifying event severely distressed both the victim and his family, who are grappling with the aftermath of this horrendous attack.
Inspector Dunne appealed to parents, urging them to imagine the grief they would undergo if it was their child who suffered such injuries. She also revealed that efforts to identify those implicated in the attack were underway.
As Halloween nears, she urged parents and guardians to carefully monitor their children’s whereabouts and company. She further cautioned them about the potential risks of engaging in such irresponsible behaviours, which could result in self-injury or injury to others, or worse, a criminal record impacting their future job opportunities and travel plans.
It’s believed that a majority of the fireworks used in the Republic during this season are imported from Northern Ireland. However, importing, possessing, selling or using any kind of fireworks without a permit is strictly illicit in both Northern Ireland and the Republic. Lighting an unlicensed firework or hurling a lit firework at a person or property is also considered a criminal offence in both areas.