GARDAÍ are concerned 50 stolen marine emergency flares may be mistakenly used, by children, as fireworks over Hallowe’en.

I’m not suggesting we stop the Irish army doing its marvellous peace-keeping work in places like Chad.

THEY come from far and wide to a dark, ghoulish, bloodstained corner of south Tipperary at this time of year, to a pub where the customer is as likely to be greeted by a skeleton as a waitress, and where the reputation goes beyond mere food and drink.

BUSINESSES have been urged to be extra vigilant on Hallowe’en as it is one of the top nights for vandalism.

IN THEORY, after the past week or so, Brian Lenihan should be in a corner, wearing a dunce’s cap. But Brian Lenihan may have a touch of Bertie’s Teflon, because, for some reason, he hasn’t attracted the worst of the odium.

MORE THAN €1 million was spent cleaning up Hallowe’en bonfires and fireworks last year, Dublin city chiefs revealed.

THIS year’s bad weather will be coming back to haunt revellers at Hallowe’en — for Ireland is short of pumpkins.

A GANG of schoolchildren armed with metal bars travelled from Dublin to Meath by bus to attack a junior certificate student because of a tiff over a girlfriend, it has emerged.

KERRY gardaí are cracking down on people who use or trade illegal fireworks in the run-up to Hallowe’en.

LOYALIST killer Torrens Knight was a double agent shielded by the Special Branch before he murdered eight people in the Greysteel massacre, SDLP Assembly member John Dallat claimed yesterday.

PREDOMINANTLY elderly residents of an estate in Tralee are living in fear of rampaging gangs of youths.

The Government has issued warnings to people that they could face heavy penalties if caught with fireworks this weekend.

PARENTS have been urged to exercise caution and think of their children’s safety ahead of the Halloween weekend.

Fireworks and bonfires will endanger children’s safety over the next week. Irish Examiner reporters look at the measures being taken to prevent accidents.

THE little girl at the door on Hallowe’en was charmed when I let on to be scared of her witch costume.

NURSES’ representatives are forecasting severe overcrowding problems at accident and emergency units will be exacerbated by bonfire-related injuries over the Hallowe’en weekend.

The Health and Safety Authority has called on service station operators not to sell petrol to children in the run-up to Hallowe’en.

Six men arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing of a man in Co Tipperary on Hallowe’en night have been released.

Dissident republicans were today blamed for an explosion outside a police station in Northern Ireland.