UUP calls for illegal fireworks crack down to protect farm animals

Mr Robert Carmichael, the East Londonderry Ulster Unionist Party Association Chairman, has called on the Stormont Justice Minister to give the police even tougher powers to crack down on people who use illegal fireworks to scare animals and especially farm livestock in rural areas. 

   Mr Carmichael issued his challenge on behalf of the association with the traditional Hallowe’en school holidays looming in a few weeks’ time.

   Mr Carmichael said: “We in the UUP also call on the community to help stamp out the continued threat to livestock from young, irresponsible thugs throwing fireworks at farm animals.” 

   Mr Carmichael added: “The entire community, both urban and rural, needs to remain on alert because of the threat from illegal fireworks in the countryside.

   “With Hallowe’en approaching, there still unfortunately remains the threat from large volumes of often illegal fireworks in the countryside. 

   “These illegal fireworks, and especially the loud banger types, still pose a considerable threat to farm livestock in particular and animals in general.

   “As a UUP association, we call on the Stormont Justice Minister to give the police whatever resources they require to seek out and seize illegal fireworks which can caused injury not just to others, but also to the users.

   “We also call on the Justice Minister to allow the courts to impose even tougher sentences on people convicted of either supplying or using illegal fireworks, especially if their use involves the targeting of farm livestock.

   “As a UUP association, we appeal to the community that if they have any knowledge of these types of potential attacks or the locations of stocks of illegal fireworks to give the information as soon as possible to the police so that these people can be brought before the courts and face the due process of the law.

   “We also appeal to parents to ensure they know that their children are doing. Attacks on farm livestock are an open attack on the farmer’s livelihood and assets. 

   “For example, we recall the past destruction of farm buildings and death of livestock in the Coleraine area when farm buildings were razed by fire.

   “That should leave us as a community in no doubt about the damage which fire can cause.

   “Although this specific incident was not attributed to misuse of fireworks, we could see repeats of these harrowing scenes again if the dangerous practices of hurling fireworks at animals are not stopped.

   “And it’s not just farm animals which have suffered under the threat of the so-called ‘Banger Menace’. 

   “In past times, too, human life was put at considerable risk when young hoods threw fireworks into a church hall where a youth group was meeting in a village in our neighbouring constituency of North Antrim.

   “As a community, we have a moral duty to assist the police and the courts in eradicating the threats to life and physical attacks from these Hallowe’en Hoods. 

   “These socially sick individuals often get their kicks by intimidating the more vulnerable in our society. As a community, we cannot afford to wait until a flock or herd is burned alive before taking action to help the forces of law and order stamp out the ‘Banger Menace’.

   “As a community, we must not be flippant about the threat of fire dangers to barns and bales, especially with the high costs of replacement fodder for the upcoming winter,” said Mr Carmichael.