€300,000 worth of fireworks seized

GARDAI swooped on dealers at the national ploughing championships in Mogeely, Co Cork, and seized nearly one and a half tonnes of lethal fireworks worth an estimated €300,000.

The seizures were seen as a serious setback for traders poised for a big sales drive in the weeks leading up to Hallow’een.

Most of the fireworks originated in Asia and were being offered to customers, many of them teenagers, for as little as €2 per pack.