Drizzt
Member
The Mirror
June 6, 2003, Friday
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 7
LENGTH: 457 words
HEADLINE: SPLAT'S ENOUGH;
GARDA EXPERTS FIND PAINTBALL GUN IS FIREARM
BYLINE: DECLAN FAHY
HIGHLIGHT:
DANGER: Toy
BODY:
A TOY gun that badly injured a six-year-old boy has been classed as a firearm by gardai.
Ballistic experts tested the Super Paintball Splat toy, which fires small pellets of liquid paint at high speed, after a request from the wounded child's parents.
The little boy, from Greystones, Co Wicklow, was hit in the face by a pellet from the gun last April. A Garda spokeswoman said yesterday: "It is a prohibited weapon under Irish law.
"It is also classed as especially dangerous and could not be licensed in Ireland."
Consumer groups have now stepped up their calls for the widely available toy to be banned immediately.
The injured child had been sitting in the passenger seat of his mother's car with the window down when he was hit. He was left seriously bruised around the eye and was treated at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Dublin.
A member of the boy's family, who did not want to be named, said other parents should be made aware of the gun's dangers.
Gardai told the family their ballistic tests found the supposed toy gun is actually a firearm.
A complaint has been made to the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs, which has responsibility for banning products.
Michael Kilcoyne, chief of the Consumers' Association of Ireland, said: "We regard this as very serious.
"We think the Director of Consumer Affairs should move to have this gun banned as soon as possible.
"It is also our understanding that the makers of the gun have refused to say what is contained in the paint.
"We don't think that is good enough. They should be compelled to do that."
The association's chief executive Dermott Jewell previously said the gun was "dangerous and unsafe" and called for it to be banned.
He added: "These things shouldn't be on the market. We are amazed they are."
Director of Consumer Affairs Carmel Foley said she is now taking legal advice.
But she added: "In general, we would take action when toys are banned but are on sale. But unfortunately this one complies with EU regulations."
The toy gun is made in China and distributed by the Olop Leisure Group of Torquay, on the south coast of England.
On the packaging the gun's use is only recommended under the direct supervision of adults.
It also warns against firing at the eyes or face and tells users to "always use accompanying goggles when playing with Paintball Splat".
Olop said last night it had no comment to make on the Garda test.
Smyth's toyshop were yesterday telling customers the gun had been taken from its shelves.
An assistant said: "We had to take them off the shelves last week. We are waiting for head office to make a decision about whether we can put them back."
June 6, 2003, Friday
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 7
LENGTH: 457 words
HEADLINE: SPLAT'S ENOUGH;
GARDA EXPERTS FIND PAINTBALL GUN IS FIREARM
BYLINE: DECLAN FAHY
HIGHLIGHT:
DANGER: Toy
BODY:
A TOY gun that badly injured a six-year-old boy has been classed as a firearm by gardai.
Ballistic experts tested the Super Paintball Splat toy, which fires small pellets of liquid paint at high speed, after a request from the wounded child's parents.
The little boy, from Greystones, Co Wicklow, was hit in the face by a pellet from the gun last April. A Garda spokeswoman said yesterday: "It is a prohibited weapon under Irish law.
"It is also classed as especially dangerous and could not be licensed in Ireland."
Consumer groups have now stepped up their calls for the widely available toy to be banned immediately.
The injured child had been sitting in the passenger seat of his mother's car with the window down when he was hit. He was left seriously bruised around the eye and was treated at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Dublin.
A member of the boy's family, who did not want to be named, said other parents should be made aware of the gun's dangers.
Gardai told the family their ballistic tests found the supposed toy gun is actually a firearm.
A complaint has been made to the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs, which has responsibility for banning products.
Michael Kilcoyne, chief of the Consumers' Association of Ireland, said: "We regard this as very serious.
"We think the Director of Consumer Affairs should move to have this gun banned as soon as possible.
"It is also our understanding that the makers of the gun have refused to say what is contained in the paint.
"We don't think that is good enough. They should be compelled to do that."
The association's chief executive Dermott Jewell previously said the gun was "dangerous and unsafe" and called for it to be banned.
He added: "These things shouldn't be on the market. We are amazed they are."
Director of Consumer Affairs Carmel Foley said she is now taking legal advice.
But she added: "In general, we would take action when toys are banned but are on sale. But unfortunately this one complies with EU regulations."
The toy gun is made in China and distributed by the Olop Leisure Group of Torquay, on the south coast of England.
On the packaging the gun's use is only recommended under the direct supervision of adults.
It also warns against firing at the eyes or face and tells users to "always use accompanying goggles when playing with Paintball Splat".
Olop said last night it had no comment to make on the Garda test.
Smyth's toyshop were yesterday telling customers the gun had been taken from its shelves.
An assistant said: "We had to take them off the shelves last week. We are waiting for head office to make a decision about whether we can put them back."
