Four fire fighters have been injured in attacks in Northern Ireland over what has been described by the Fire Service as the busiest 24 hours of the year.

Two fire fighters have been treated in hospital after their fire engine was attacked by stone throwers in Rathfriland, County Down. Both men were injured when they answered a call to attend a bonfire on Halloween night. One of the men needed stitches to his face while another suffered a shoulder injury.

In a separate incident in County Tyrone a fire engine was damaged when petrol bombs were thrown in Fintona. Another fire fighter was hurt in an attack in Beechmount in west Belfast.

Divisional Officer Allister Rooney from Northern Ireland Fire Authority headquarters in Lisburn said that the attacks on his fire fighters were “totally unacceptable.” He also stressed that these kinds of civil disturbance attacks were not isolated events. He said: “These attacks happen every night of the year. It is a growing problem and I am growing increasingly concerned about the welfare of out men out there. I’m afraid that it will take one of our fire fighters to get seriously injured or even killed before people start listening to us.

He added: “I am appealing to local community leaders and church leaders to use their powers of persuasion to try and get the perpetrators of theses disturbances to realise the damage they are doing by attacking the fire service which is ultimately there to service and help the community.” (AMcE)