Major fireworks haul likened to ‘large bomb’

By Brónagh Murphy

A huge consignment of illegal fireworks has been seized by police in Newry.

The haul, believed to be around one and a half tonnes, was discovered in a commercial premises in the Bridge Street area of the city on Thursday.

A teenager has been charged with a series of offences relating to the find.  Among the charges put to the 18-year-old man were possession of fireworks without a licence, unlawfully exposing fireworks for sale, unlawfully keeping fireworks for sale and dishonestly using electricity.

The man is expected to appear before Newry Court on November 18th.

‘Large Bomb’

Meanwhile, SDLP MLA Dominic Bradley says the haul was the equivalent of ‘a large bomb’ describing it as a ‘major disaster waiting to happen.’

“People who illegally import vast quantities of illegal fireworks are unlikely to be up to speed on health and safety regulations for safe storage of dangerous substances, so this was a major disaster waiting to happen.,” Mr Bradley said.

He commended the actions of the PSNI in seizing the fireworks.

“I welcome this action by the police, but what we have here is clearly an illegal large-scale wholesaler. There are signs advertising retail sales of fireworks on the A1 and virtually every road crossing the border and local people are asking how many of them are properly licensed or inspected for health and safety,” he said.

“Every year, at this time of year, children are seriously injured by fireworks which do not meet any proper manufacturing standard. Parents must exercise their own responsibility but we must get dangerous and illegal fireworks off our streets and off our back roads.”