The number of calls to the Dublin Fire Brigade more than doubled on Halloween night compared with the previous year, but the level of injuries and violence was down significantly, a fire brigade spokesman said yesterday.
Fire services and some Garda stations around the country also reported a quieter night but pockets of violence and vandalism were highlighted around the State.
Halloween vandalism led to the withdrawal of bus services across Limerick city on Tuesday night. Gangs of youths threw rocks, eggs and other missiles at buses before the service was closed down. In a separate incident, gardaí were pelted with stones and fireworks by a group of up to 30 youths who had gathered in the Thomondgate area of the city. Two teenagers were arrested at the scene.
In Cork, motorists reported that bags of cement were thrown from the Ballincollig bypass in the path of cars. In Tipperary,four youths are due to appear before Carrick-on-Suir District Court this morning in connection with public order offences.
Dublin Fire Brigade received 388 fire calls and 240 ambulance calls over a 15-hour period at Halloween, according to David Bell, third officer in charge of operations with the brigade.
This compared with 136 fire calls and 120 ambulance calls during a 12-hour period on the previous Halloween.
"It was an extremely busy night but a good night," he said. No firefighters were injured, no vehicles were damaged and just one person had to be taken to hospital with a firework-related injury.
Meanwhile, a Garda spokeswoman said there was a 10 per cent increase in calls to the 999 emergency service in the Dublin area on Halloween night compared with the previous night.
Garda stations received many calls complaining about fireworks and bangers, but there was no marked rise in public order incidents, the spokeswoman said. "Generally, it was a fairly quiet night."
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell recently introduced new legislation to penalise those in possession of fireworks without a licence. The Garda spokeswoman said the figures on the number of illegal fireworks seized were not yet available but there was a general feeling that there had been "a huge reduction" in fireworks on the previous year.
Waterford city Garda station reported that any extra calls to the station related to complaints about fireworks rather than public order offences. "It was crazy with fireworks but nothing out of the blue," a Garda said.
He said the clampdown on fireworks meant that people were less likely to use the fireworks in the days before Halloween but there were still plenty of fireworks on Halloween night.
Gardaí in Cork also reported a quiet night, with few public order incidents. A spokesman said the clampdown on fireworks had made a major difference.
The Galway Fire Service also reported an uneventful night with bonfires being kept under control. "The kids were very well behaved, I have to say," said station officer Frankie Dolan.
In Northern Ireland, Audrey Chambers (69) suffered burns to her legs when her nightdress was set alight by a firework thrown at her home in Dervock, Ballymoney, Co Antrim.
Police came under attack in Crossmaglen, Warrenpoint and Sion Mills, where an 18-year-old youth was arrested after disturbances.
There were 21 arrests at Derry's council-organised city centre celebrations and some 30 people were treated in the A&E department of Altnagelvin Hospital.
Additional reporting: PA
