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TWO GOVERNMENT MINISTERS have called on parents to be extra vigilant this Halloween as they warned of the dangers of children playing with fireworks.

Children’s Minister James Reilly and one of his predecessors, Frances Fitzgerald, the Justice Minister, were at Dublin Castle today to highlight the dangers of using illegal fireworks this Halloween.

“There is going to be some parent on Saturday morning who’ll be very sorry that their child played with fireworks,” Fitzgerald warned.

She said fireworks “are very lethal weapons for young children and there’s a lot of injuries caused” as she highlighted the penalties that apply to the use of illegal fireworks in this State.

These include a fine of up to €10,000 for the possession of illegal fireworks and a fine and prison sentence of up to five years for possession with intent to sell or supply.

Reilly echoed his cabinet colleague, saying this time of year can be “a dangerous time for children”.

“Children will be tempted towards the fun around bangers and other fireworks and they’re deadly because they can result in the loss of a hand, the loss of an eye,” he said.

Reilly said that last year there were 75 admissions to Crumlin Children’s Hospital for injuries related to fireworks around the Halloween period.

He called on parents to be extra vigilant and to ensure their children attend officially supervised fireworks displays.

In a further appeal, the minister said: “Please don’t be tempted to have your own fireworks and in particular don’t allow your own children handle them. Even after they’ve exploded they can explode again.”

Read: There are some people who are really scared on Halloween – here’s why

Read: Warning over fireworks danger – and €10,000 fine for using them illegally