NI: Pensioner injured in firework attack

An elderly woman suffered burns when her night-dress was set alight by a firework deliberately thrown at her, it was revealed today.

Audrey Chambers, 69, suffered burns to her legs when she was targeted at her home in Dervock outside Ballymoney, Co Antrim last night.

It was just one of a series of Halloween Night acts of violence which also saw police attacked across the North.

The pensioner was injured after she heard a loud bang outside the house, opened her front door to investigate and had a lit firework thrown at her which set her night-dress and dressing gown alight.

She managed to beat out the flames limiting her injuries to minor burns to her legs.

But PSNI Inspector Noel Mitchell said: “This was a despicable act that could very easily have resulted in more serious injuries and underlines the need for stricter controls on the supply of fireworks.

“There can be no excuse for this type of behaviour and we are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward and help police with their inquiries.”

Insp Mitchell added: “This was an indefensible attack on a vulnerable lady that should be unequivocally condemned by all right thinking people.”

Ms Chambers said she thought by opening her door it would stop people throwing fireworks at her home.

She said: “They were hiding in one of the gardens across the street and as soon as I opened the door I heard them say ‘There she is, there’ and before I could close the door again they threw a firework.

“It caught my night-dress and dressing gown and set them on fire. I don’t know how I got the fire out.

“I am bruised and I have a few burns on my legs.”

The attack was just one in a night of trouble and injury.

A 16-year-old youth walking through Loughbrickland, Co Down was struck in the face and taken to hospital with an eye injury after being hit in the face by as firework.

In Crossmaglen, South Armagh a crowd of 30-40 republican youths attacked a police foot patrol with fireworks and stones. When an armoured Land Rover went to the scene later it came under similar attack suffering damaged estimated by police at £8,000 (€12,000).

There was further trouble in nearby Bessbrook which local Ulster Unionist Assembly member Danny Kennedy described as “something akin to Beirut”.

He added: “There were bottle, bricks and large lumps of wood and burning embers scattered all over the centre.”

A few miles away in Warrenpoint, Co Down the night’s celebrations turned nasty when a group of 40 youths gathered and hurled petrol bombs at police.

A number of cars were damaged and police said they were studying CCTV footage in a bid to identify and arrest those responsible.

Mr Kennedy said rogue elements had used the Halloween festival as an excuse to damage property and lure police into the firing-line.

At Sion Mills in Co Tyrone an 18-year-old youth was arrested after disturbances during which police and firefighters were attacked with fireworks.

Derry's big council organised set-piece Halloween city centre celebrations resulted in 21 arrests and some 30 people being treated in the Accident and Emergency department of Altnagelvin Hospital.

Under age drinking was blamed on many of the admissions, including a 14-year-old and three 15-year-olds.