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| Pensioner set alight by firework | Pensioner set alight by firework |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A 69-year-old woman suffered burns to her legs after her nightgown was set alight by a firework in Ballymoney. | A 69-year-old woman suffered burns to her legs after her nightgown was set alight by a firework in Ballymoney. |
| The incident happened at about 1910 GMT on Tuesday after Audrey Chambers went to the front door of her house in the Dervock area after hearing a loud bang. | The incident happened at about 1910 GMT on Tuesday after Audrey Chambers went to the front door of her house in the Dervock area after hearing a loud bang. |
| Mrs Chambers managed to put the flames out but was left with minor burns. She said youths have been throwing fireworks at her home for a week. | Mrs Chambers managed to put the flames out but was left with minor burns. She said youths have been throwing fireworks at her home for a week. |
| A stone was also thrown through a window of her house later that night. | A stone was also thrown through a window of her house later that night. |
| "I went to the door and thought they would stop throwing fireworks, but as soon as I opened the door I heard them say 'there she is' and before I could close the door again they threw a firework," she said. | "I went to the door and thought they would stop throwing fireworks, but as soon as I opened the door I heard them say 'there she is' and before I could close the door again they threw a firework," she said. |
| "It caught my nightdress and dressing gown and set them on fire. I don't know how I got the fire out. | "It caught my nightdress 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." | "I am bruised and I have a few burns on my legs." |
| Inspector Noel Mitchell said her injuries could have been much worse. | Inspector Noel Mitchell said her injuries could have been much worse. |
| Bessbrook was described as "something akin to Beirut" | |
| "There can be no excuse for this type of behaviour and we are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward," Inspector Mitchell said. | "There can be no excuse for this type of behaviour and we are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward," Inspector Mitchell said. |
| "This was an indefensible attack on a vulnerable lady that should be unequivocally condemned by any responsible thinking person." | "This was an indefensible attack on a vulnerable lady that should be unequivocally condemned by any responsible thinking person." |
| Meanwhile, petrol bombs were thrown at police during trouble in Warrenpoint in County Down on Tuesday night. | |
| A group of up to 40 youths gathered in Duke Street at about 2130 GMT. | |
| A number of cars were damaged. No-one was arrested. The police said CCTV footage would be examined and any offenders identified would be arrested. | |
| 'Completely unacceptable' | |
| UUP assembly member Danny Kennedy condemned "the widespread anti-social behaviour which affected significant areas of Newry and Mourne". | |
| Mr Kennedy said "rogue elements" had attempted to "lure police" by using the Halloween festival as an excuse to attack property, individuals and the PSNI. | |
| He described the scene in Bessbrook village in County Armagh as "something akin to Beirut, with bottles, bricks and large lumps of wood and burning embers scattered" all over the centre. | |
| Sinn Fein councillor for Newry and Mourne Mickey Ruane said the incident was "completely unacceptable". | |
| "This type of outrageous behaviour can in no way be excused and indeed it is only by luck that no-one was seriously injured," he said. | |
| In a separate incident, a 16-year-old has been hit in the face by a firework on the Poyntzpass Road in Loughbrickland, County Down. | |
| He was taken to hospital with a serious injury to his right eye following the incident, which took place at about 2300 GMT on Tuesday. |