Halloween: Gardaí warn against throwing flour, eggs, and fireworks

Eva Osborne

Gardaí have provided advice on how to stay safe this Halloween, including a reminder that it is a criminal offence to throw fireworks in the street or other public places and a warning not to engage in throwing things like eggs and flour.

This is vandalism and may be classed as criminal damage, An Garda Síochána said, as it warned people to be safe and sensible this Halloween.

As preparations are well under way across the country for Halloween festivities, An Garda Síochána is advising people to be safe and sensible.

Other tips include:

• Please be mindful and respectful that not everyone in our community will be participating;
• Children should always be accompanied by an adult when trick or treating;
• Please trick or treat in lit up areas or otherwise ensure that you are highly visible to road users;
• Please care for the environment – illegal fireworks and illegal bonfires can not only be extremely dangerous but cause lasting environmental damage.

Operation Tombola is An Garda Síochána's nationwide operation focusing on preventing and detecting the sale of fireworks and associated public order and anti-social behaviour issues during the Halloween period.

Over the past decade, gardaí have seized 1,218 explosives under Operation Tombola, with a value of €225,000.

Supt Ann-Marie Twomey, of the Garda National Community Engagement Bureau, said: "Those who attempt to profit from the sale of illegal fireworks by putting them into the hands of those that are not licensed to safely use them are proactively targeted by gardaí nationwide - the fireworks are seized so as to prevent anti-social behaviour and dangerous incidents including possible injury and we will prosecute those responsible.

"As always, we prioritise the safety of young people and the wider community. If you are celebrating Halloween this year, we want you to safely enjoy the night and we’re asking young people in particular to please be sensible.

"You can get into the spirit of Halloween without causing distress to others, potentially endangering yourself by using illegal fireworks or doing anything potentially criminal that will get you into bother.”

An Garda Síochána is also asking drivers to slow down and show extra caution while driving over the next 48 hours as more people, including small children, will be out on roads.