TEENS TARGETED IN DRIVE-BY FIREWORKS SIEGE
Shock attack in Ballylongford on Halloween night
LOCALS in Ballylongford have expressed shock and anger following a random fireworks attack in the village on Halloween night.
Witnesses said that three disguised cars drove up and down the village throwing fireworks and eggs out of the car at people on the street, including at young children and teenagers who were forced to hang off the bridge or run to the local chipper for safety.
“It was like being under siege,” said one witness.
Siobhan and Betty Stack, whose teenagers were in the village during the attack, said it was very frighting for everyone involved. “They were petrified,” said Siobhan.
“It was a crazy situation. It is just not right,” added Betty.
A number of teenagers ran for cover to Betty’s house after being trapped in the local chipper for over an hour as the cars drove up and down the village throwing fireworks and eggs.
The culprits were believed to be men in their 20s and appeared to have orchestrated the attack between them. The number plates of the vehicles were covered up to evade detection. It continued for up two hours according to witnesses.
“A few teenagers were hit and had marks,” said Siobhan.
“You just don’t expect something like this to happen,” she added.
GARDAÍ are investigating after men in disguised cars raced through Ballylongford village on Halloween night throwing fireworks from the cars straight at terrified children and teenagers who were forced to seek shelter in the local chipper and under the bridge.
Witnesses said that three cars – all with their number plates covered up – were involved in the incident which lasted a number of hours.
“They were petrified,” said parent, Siobhan Stack.
“You don’t expect this to happen here.”
Adults and children who were out ‘ trick or treating’ had to run for cover when the cars – each full of men some of whom were wearing masks – sped through the village as their occupants flung lit fireworks and bangers from the vehicles.
A number of children had to hang off a bridge to find cover while others were forced to take refuge in a nearby shop.
The cars made several laps of the village, continually hurling fireworks from the vehicles, before speeding from the area.
While no one was seriously hurt a number of the adults and children are understood to have suffered minor injuries, including cuts and grazes.
Many of the teeangers too cover in Eileen Stack’s house. She said the situation was ‘crazy’.
“It is just not right.” Gardaí are appealing for witnesses – or anyone with any information – to come forward as they attempt to identify the culprits, a task garda sources admitted will be made more difficult by the fact that the cars’ licence plates were obscuredand the lack of CCTV.
The incident marred what was otherwise described by Gardaí as being a “relatively peaceful” Halloween around the county.
Kerry’s Fire Service had a busy night, responding to 20 incidents across the county.