The chairman of Donegal County Council said vandals who set fire to a gas cylinder close to a Letterkenny housing estate last night could have killed themselves or young children.
Mayor Gerry McMonagle says he has been inundated with calls from concerned residents after last night’s incident.
And he said it was only a stroke of luck which prevented somebody from being seriously hurt.
Residents of KIllylastin Heights and Windmill View were left terrified after a huge explosion rocked their houses.
The explosion happened when vandals deliberately set fire to a large gas cylinder which they had set between tyres before setting it alight.
Pieces of debris from the explosion were found on green areas in both Killylastin Heights and Windmill View.
Cllr Gerry McMonagle.
Cathaoirleach McMonagle told Donegal Daily “It’s just a stroke of luck that some child was not hit by this flying debris or was not playing on that waste ground where the cylinder was set on fire.
“This was just complete stupidity and I would appeal to young people to think before they do such things.
“They are endangering their own lives and the lives of many young children in such built-up areas.
“I know residents will say they need more CCTV and that may be so but I would appeal to the parents of these teenagers to speak to their children about such wanton vandalism.”
Two fire tenders, an ambulance and Gardai rushed to the scene of last night’s incident which took place around 7.30pm.
A full investigation has been launched.
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