A LOCAL politician has warned that someone could lose their life if teenagers in Killyleagh don’t stop “terrorising” elderly residents by throwing fireworks at their homes.
Rowallane councillor Billy Walker is also concerned that young people lighting fireworks could potentially sustain life-threatening injuries if the devices they are handling explode prematurely.
He said in the wake of what has been happening, some senior citizens are “living in fear” and has appealed to the those responsible for targeting their homes to stop immediately. Cllr Walker said young people have been igniting fireworks in the harbour area in Killyleagh over recent weeks, with the problem also an issue in the Catherine Street, Irish Street, Shore Street and Seaview areas in the town.
“Many people whose homes have borne the brunt of this outrageous behaviour are in a distressed state and this despicable behaviour must end. I have been contacted by several people, one of whom is a resident who does not enjoy good health at the moment. There is a lot of concern about this issue,” he said.
“This sort of behaviour is despicable and it would appear that for some young people Halloween runs from September to the end of October. This simply isn’t on. If young people want to let off fireworks, they should find an open area where it is safe to do so, also ensuring that they are complying with the law.” Cllr Walker said it is not too outrageous to suggest that the shock of an exploding firework could cause someone to have a heart attack.
“While the fireworks problem is district-wide at this time of year, I am really concerned at what is happening in Killyleagh and plan to raise the issue at the next meeting of the Policing and Community Safety Partnership,” he continued.
“Many people want to see a greater police presence in Killyleagh and I fully support this view. If there were officers on patrol, it could help curb the behaviour of young people who have no respect for other people and their homes.”
The Rowallane councillor suggested that when there is trouble in other parts of the district there is an automatic police response, arguing that this is not always the case in Killyleagh.
He continued: “My biggest fear is that an elderly person could literally die of fright if this anti-social behaviour continues.
“Some elderly people are at their wits’ end and pet owners are also concerned about the impact fireworks are having on their animals. Young people seem oblivious to the fact that a firework is in effect an explosive and that if it ignited in their hand, they could potentially lose a limb.”
Cllr Walker said he is also concerned that young people appear to have easy access to fireworks which means some people are left living in fear, literally waiting for the next explosion.
“Our senior citizens should not have to live like this. How is it fair that people who have made their contribution to society are left living in fear?” he asked. “They deserve much more respect.
“As I have said before, there’s a need to promote greater public awareness about the impacts of fireworks on people, especially the vulnerable and those who live alone.”
Cllr Walker insisted that he is not against young people having fun as they celebrate Halloween, but said they must behave responsibly, suggesting teenagers should content themselves with attending public fireworks displays.
He added: “We have this problem every year and every Halloween it appears to be getting worse. We need to address it or I fear a time
will come when an elderly person could literally be frightened to death or a young person handling
a firework will be scarred for life. “Fireworks are only safe when they are ignited in a controlled environment by experts who know what they are doing. We have no guarantees that the fireworks being let off by young people adhere to rigorous safety standards. That is one of my major worries and something that we need to address.”