Boy injured during firework incident

Police in Newtownabbey are investigating the circumstances surrounding an incident in which a 15-year-old boy was burnt by a firework on Friday morning.

It is understood that a firework was placed in the teenager's pocket and ignited during an incident at Glengormley High School in County Antrim.

The boy, was taken to hospital where he was treated for burns to his legs – however his injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

The teenager's school uniform and mobile phone was also damaged during the incident.

In response to the incident, DUP MLA for South Down Jim Wells, said that someone will be "horribly mutilated" or “killed” unless firework legislation is properly implemented in Northern Ireland.

Speaking earlier to BBC News, Mr Wells said: "We have very good legislation out there... the point is the police are not implementing that legislation and controlling the use of fireworks.

"Until we start to take this seriously, it's only a matter of time before we have our first fatality."

Mr wells added that the majority of illegal fireworks are being brought into Northern Ireland from the Republic through the Newry and Mourne area and added that more co-operation from security forces in the south was needed to prevent this from happening.

Following Mr Wells' comments, police in County Fermanagh seized a large number of illegal fireworks at Mullen Market, Enniskillen, shortly before 4pm on Saturday afternoon.

Police removed around 1,800 of illegal fireworks, along with approximately 450 suspected counterfeit CD's and DVD's.

Police have said that their inquiries are ongoing.

(EF/SP)