AT ONE OF the busiest times of the year for our emergency services, tougher laws are needed to crack down on those attacking frontline workers according to Fianna Fáil TD John Lahart.

Last night, a member of Dublin Fire Brigade suffered an ear injury after a firework was thrown while attending the scene of a bonfire in Blanchardstown.

With units from the DFB attending scenes in numerous locations last evening, the following two nights are set to be busy for emergency services.

Lahart said that frontline services “must be protected with full rigour of the law”.

He said: “Those working to protect the safety of ordinary citizens are not just a uniform, they are human.

They have families and lives too and the public needs to act with respect. We need to teach our young people that same message, that those they are trying to harm could be their own loved one.

The Dublin South-West TD said legislation previously put forward by his party would impose serious penalties on people who attack frontline services.

“The bill had provided for a minimum five-year prison term for anyone found guilty of a serious attack on frontline workers but it is clear that we need a further measures to deter anyone who threatens assault or causes harm to these staff,” Lahart said.

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