Residents in Cherry Orchard, west Dublin, have been left dealing with the aftermath of a chaotic Halloween night, with burnt-out cars, damaged property and debris littering the streets.
The scenes have prompted criticism of anti-social behaviour in the area, with local councillor Daithí Doolan claiming a small group of people "terrorised the community".
Smoke was still rising from bonfires on Sunday morning as residents surveyed the damage in Croftwood Meadows. Burnt-out vehicles, broken glass, bottles, cans, firework cartons and laughing gas canisters were among the debris scattered across roads and green areas.
Footage shared online showed joyriders speeding through estates, cars colliding with other vehicles and fireworks being set off towards crowds. Several cars were also set alight, while fires were started on roads and green spaces.
Gardaí attempted to deal with the disorder, but some areas were reportedly too dangerous to enter. Dublin Fire Brigade also confirmed that crews had been unable to attend certain incidents because of hostile conditions.
The chaos came just days after Dublin City Council announced that Cherry Orchard's annual Halloween fireworks display had been cancelled due to circumstances beyond its control.
The decision sparked concern among some residents, who believe the organised display plays an important role in preventing anti-social behaviour in the area.
Sinn Féin councillor for Ballyfermot-Drimnagh Daithí Doolan attributed the cancellation to ongoing industrial action by public sector workers, who have been taking part in a work-to-rule amid a pay dispute.
He said the official display had been a longstanding part of the community's Halloween celebrations and that its cancellation was a lesson for future years.
Cllr Doolan also appealed to those involved to consider the damage caused, saying families had been left frightened in their own homes.
He praised residents who came out on Sunday morning to help clean up the estate, adding that most of the burnt-out cars had since been removed.
The councillor said he hoped the following night would be quiet and urged people not to get involved in further anti-social behaviour.
View this post on Instagram
Meanwhile, Dublin Fire Brigade reported an exceptionally busy Halloween, with 585 calls received, 470 of which were directly related to Halloween.
Across its wider operations, the service dealt with 1,620 calls, including 669 ambulance calls and 366 Leinster regional fire calls, making it the busiest Halloween night in 15 years.
Chief Fire Officer Greg O'Dwyer described the call volume as "extremely high", pointing to the dry, mild weather and the fact that Halloween fell on a Saturday as contributing factors.
He said incidents included house fires, cars being set alight, anti-social behaviour and serious road traffic collisions. In some parts of Dublin, stolen cars and debris were also used to block roads and prevent fire crews from reaching incidents.
Despite the scale of the disruption, no firework-related injuries were reported, and no injuries to Dublin Fire Brigade personnel were recorded.
Cllr Doolan has called for the Cherry Orchard fireworks display to return next year, saying it has traditionally helped keep Halloween celebrations under control in the area.
