A 12-year-old west Belfast boy will find out later this week whether permanent damage was caused after being struck close to one of his eyes by a firework.
Finbarr O’Toole needed an emergency operation around his eye after being hit as he walked through the park with two friends on Saturday night.
His mother, Louise, said one of his friends called her in a panic after young Finbarr was struck and fell to the ground screaming in the Páirc Nua Chollann on the Stewartstown Road in Dunmurry.
It happened at approximately 8.30pm and it was reported a group of youths were nearby at the time. Finbarr was on his way to the Glider stop outside the park.
“His friends called us in a terrible state, saying he was bleeding out of one of his eyes,” Mrs O’Toole said. “When they called me I could hear screaming in the background.”
The three made their way out of the park to the home of one of the boys. After his mother arrived, within minutes, Finbarr was brought to the Royal Victoria Hospital where emergency surgery was carried out.
A tear duct, which manages drainage from the eye, was split in half and there was bleeding in the area where Finbarr was struck, Mrs O’Toole said. Doctors inserted a tube to heal damage to the duct while the boy needed 10 small stitches next to the eye.
“We do not know what damage has been caused but he may have a permanent runny eye. It is better than losing the eye,” Mrs O’Toole said.
Finbarr returns to the hospital on Thursday to find out the full extent of the damage.
The boy is only just recovering after being struck by a car during the summer, his mother said.
Regularly over the last number of weeks, fireworks have been heard being let off in this park. But the firing of one, possibly directly, at the three young boys was described as a “reckless assault” by the PSNI.
“This incident was traumatic to both the young male and his family, who has suffered a serious injury as a result of this reckless assault,” Belfast Area Chief Inspector Louise Dunne said.
“I would ask parents to consider how they would feel if this was their child who had endured these injuries.
“As we approach the Halloween period, I would ask local parents and guardians to speak to their young people about where they are and who they are with, and to warn them of the dangers of getting involved in this type of behaviour.
“They could injure themselves or others, and end up with a criminal record which would impact their future employment and travel prospects.
“I would also remind the community that the law regarding fireworks is clear. It is illegal to possess, sell, handle or use fireworks if you do not have a licence. And you can be fined up to £5,000 for breaking the law.
“Our officers work closely with our partner agencies to target those involved in the sale of illegal fireworks and our neighbourhood team will continue to engage with residents.”
SDLP Councillor Paul Doherty said his thoughts are with the young boy.
“He has been left very shaken and with a serious eye injury and I join everyone in wishing him a full and quick recovery,” Mr Doherty said.
“This incident underlines the seriousness of messing around with fireworks, what might seem like a bit of fun could, in an instant, leave someone with permanent, life-changing injuries or worse.
“Fireworks are not toys, they are dangerous and there are significant laws around using them as a result.”
