FIREWORK TERROR
A NEWBORN baby escaped injury by pure chance after her family's car came under attack from firework throwing thugs.
The young child’s father and mother had stopped their car at the traffic lights at the junction of William Street and Hill street on Sunday evening just before 7pm.
Naomi, their nine week old daughter was with them at the time.
Naomi’s father said he was sickened by the attack and said it was time something was done about the persistent abuse with fireworks.
He said: “Every year we have the same trouble with people using fireworks as weapons, it is time this is stopped before someone gets badly injured or worse.
“Had I been driving with my window down then my wife or my nine-week-old daughter could have been killed,” he said.
“Their was a group of three boys and two girls, they knew exactly what they were doing, this was a completely random attack.
“They threw one firework at the car which went under it and another dented the door,” he said.
“I dread to think what could have happened, I am annoyed and upset this can happen.
“Naomi has been affected by the trauma and has been jumpy ever since, at her age this can be very damaging for her development,” he said.
“This is a persistent problem each and every year and no one seems to want to do anything about it.”
Naomi’s father was so angry over the attack he chased after the gang which hurled the fireworks at their car, he managed to catch up with one of the boys who denied being the one to throw the fireworks.
He said: “We rang the police and they took two hours to get to us, I was so angry that I nearly took it out on the boy.
“I am sure if I had hit him then the police would have been out much quicker and I would be in a lot of trouble,” he said.
“The police have told me if they get the person responsible then he will just get a wrap on the knuckles.
“This is unbelievable, they will just get away with it and be able to do it again, to them this is all just a big laugh - a bit of craic,” he said.
“And this is not an isolated incident it is happening lots.”
Naomi’s father called on a number of people to take action to stop further attacks on people.
He said: “I will be visiting on our elected representatives to see what they are doing about this problem.
“I do not care who they are or what side they are from something needs to be done, if they are brought to justice then the trouble will probably go away,” he said.
“We have been lucky it was just the car damaged but it is time something was done about this,” he said.
“I want to know how they are getting their hands on the fireworks, it is obvious there are shopkeepers in the town just out to make a few pound at this time of year, irrespective of the damage this can do.
“The police told me kids are taping pennies to the fireworks to cause as much damage as possible,” he said.
“It will only be a matter of time before someone gets really badly injured, maimed or killed.
“This is a persistent problem every year for the months up to Halloween,” he said.
“Parents, police and shopkeepers need to take responsibility to get rid of this problem once and for all.
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Weather for Lurgan
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
