Horse killed in firework attack

November 01, 2005

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BATTLE: Warrior with owner Stacey Roscow

A HORSE has died and seven others were rescued from burning stables after a suspected firework attack on a stud farm.
Warrior the stallion suffered third degree burns in the blaze which is thought to have been started deliberately.

He had been rescued with seven other horses from the Coltsrock Stud Farm in Pimhole, Bury. But he had been trapped for longer than the others and the flames got to Warrior before the crews were able to get him out.

Warrior battled for life for two days, but vets had no choice but to put him down after he suffered kidney failure and his lungs filled with fluid. Police have launched an investigation into the attack.

Stud farm owners Stacey Roscow and Jennifer Rawlinson are counting the cost of the incident, which destroyed a hay barn, left two other buildings badly damaged and ruined all of their equipment.

Stacey said: "The people who did this are just mindless. They've put a defenceless animal in a lot of pain. I don't think they know what they have done.

"Warrior was worth £5,000 and would have been worth double that in 12 months time. Now we've lost him.

"We've worked really hard to set up this business over the past year and we've lost so much. It was derelict when we came and we were just getting on our feet before this happened."

She added: "I really think fireworks should be banned. This shouldn't be allowed to happen. We've had problems with fireworks around here for weeks. All our neighbours have been brilliant and the fire brigade have done an excellent job. But what happened was just senseless. It shouldn't be allowed to happen."

Fifteen firefighters were called to the stud farm, off School Street, at 11.45pm on Friday.

They forced open the doors of the stables and led the panicking horses, including Warrior, to a nearby field. They were fighting the flames for three hours and were called back on Saturday afternoon when hay in one of the buildings began to smoulder.

A group of youths is believed to have been seen playing with fireworks near the barn before the fire began.

The Manchester Evening News has campaigned for safer selling of fireworks in the run-up to bonfire night.

Police are appealing for witnesses. Anyone with information should call Greater Manchester Police on 0161 872 5050 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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Paul, Manchester (31/10/2005 at 11:45)

Hopefully they'll find who did this and then lock them in a room full of fireworks. I imagine they'll then have a queue of volunteers to toss in a match.

Carrie, Manchester (31/10/2005 at 12:38)

I'd certainly volunteer to light the match Paul - the people who did this deserve no better. But thinking of the story in the papers today about the police prosecuting a driver for driving slowly through a puddle and splashing somebody unintentionally, I doubt the police will ever catch who did this awful thing to these horses - they just go for the easy targets nowadays, the motorists. I have lost all faith in the police.

Arthur Hope, Heald Green (31/10/2005 at 13:12)

When is the sale of fireworks to the general public going to be banned. There is absolutely no need for it.

Debbie, Manchester (31/10/2005 at 14:32)

Fireworks sold over the counter to the general public should be banned!! Fireworks are legalised mini bombs that can physical damage humans and animals and destroy buildings when they are mis-used. The strain put on the emergency services around this time is phenominal!! The heartbreak and agony caused to people and their animals who have been affected by firework burns is irreparable!!

A controlled firework display is a lovely way to view fireworks at their best, in a safe environment.

Ban firework sales over the counter!!!!!

Susan, Prestwich (31/10/2005 at 14:43)

I agree. Fireworks sold to the general public should be banned. When I was 12 some young lads threw a firework at me and it landed in my hood. It exploded and burnt all the back of my neck, ears and head and down my back. I lost the hair at the back of my head. The pain of the burns was terrible! The scarring is terrible and I had to have several skin grafts from other parts of my body. My hair never grew back. It has ruined my life completely. I am 21 now and I beg and plead with the government to change the law on the sale of fireworks so that nobody else ends up like me.

Anon, Bury (31/10/2005 at 15:16)

I live around the area in the story and every year its the same - a war zone with gangs of white and asian youths lobbing firework all over the place. It's about time that fireworks were completely banned.

tracey, Stockport (31/10/2005 at 15:46)

If this horrendous story doesnt prompt someone to call a ban of the sale of fireworks to the public, i dont know what will. Maybe the other story ive read today of an 11 year old Yorkshire terrier who was tied to a firework & blown to bits?Its no use telling us to keep our animals indoors on Bonfire night, as the vile things are set off for weeks before that - eg i was woken at 4.45 am today by a barrage of bangers & rockets being let off close by.
I hope the scum who killed the horse, dog & unfortunately other defenceless animal yet to come are brought to justice sooner rather than later & i hope they rot in hell.

julie, Moston (31/10/2005 at 15:50)

I hope this horse can truly find some sleep with the angels...night night Dobbin. luv Julie and Familyxxxxx

Irene, Ashton-u-Lyne (31/10/2005 at 19:13)

Its time the government woke up to the fact that self-regulation isn't working and banned the sale of these explosives to the general public.

Its no good asking shop keepers not to sell to children under 18, when all they do is send in an older relative or friend to buy on their behalf. Additionally, many shopkeepers are frightened of retaliation from youths if they refuse to sell to them. The same thing applies to the sale of alcohol and a mix of the two seems to fuel irresponsibility.

The only way we're going to see an end to the 3 months of horror many pet owners face each autumn is to ONLY allow public displays.

I'm quite frankly sick of the people who claim that by banning the public sale of fireworks a bit more of our civil liberty is being taken away. Until society grows up and acts responsibly, demonstrating care and consideration for others and the creatures that share our lives no-one deserves the freedom to buy and destroy others lives with explosives.

Jill Evans, New Mills (31/10/2005 at 19:38)

I now think the time has come to ban all sale of fireworks if people want to see fireworks then should go to a professionally organised displays, how many more people and animals have to suffer before something is done

jane, southampton (31/10/2005 at 20:43)

i echo other comments Fireworks should be banned from public sale and limited to displays on nov 5th weekend and new years Every year animals are being tortured and killed and it is not on also the noise needs reducing is there really a need to have them sounding like a bomb going off. I like many others have pets one of my dogs gets in such a state here we have had fireworks going off since mid October and it is likely to carry on until new years

Marion, essex (31/10/2005 at 21:55)

Yet another animal has suffrerd due to fireworks,When is the sale of fireworks to jo public going to be banned, it should be to licenced organised qualifed displays only sold by licenced outlets not to just anyone,who thinks it is fun to throw them around destroying property and life!!

Anton, Manchester (31/10/2005 at 22:06)

I hope they find those responsible for this disgraceful inhuman attack. They should be rounded up, have fireworks stuffed into every available orrifice & then lit - then denied medical assistance! They have committed a crime and a serious one and deserve no humanity in their treatment when caught. Mindless yobs such as these are a blight on decent society, and its time the government clamped down HARD on those responsible and stopped the light-handed, left wing approach. They need & fully deserve HARSH PUNISHMENT !!

Angela, Bolton, Greater Manchester (01/11/2005 at 00:29)

I had my beautiful horse killed nineteen years ago on 7th November 1986 in a fire set by a 15 year old youth who was insited by bonfire night and fireworks. Fireworks inflict fear, maim and kill and should have been banned along time ago. Many more will suffer needlessly, animals and people alike, nothing will be done, this countries government still supports the wrong issues and doesn't give a tosh about the important ones, they just don't care.

Dee, Bedfordshire (01/11/2005 at 08:32)

Its about time fireworks were banned from public sale and only available to organised displays who provide proof they are legitimate organisations!! How many more people/animals have to die or be maimed before this happens?

Kate, Greater Manchester (01/11/2005 at 11:19)

I hope they find the youths that killed warrior and make them pay. It makes me so angry to hear of stories like this. In the 1980's my horses' stable yard was burnt down and one of my friends horses was killed and the others left with injuries.
I have seen youths throwing fireworks since (on bonfire night) and i too agree they should be banned.

Claire, DERBY (01/11/2005 at 13:16)

this is absolutely disgusting, when is something going to be done about these types of youths?

when are fireworks going to be banned?

Jill, New Mills (01/11/2005 at 14:02)

To all concerned, have read the article about the horse in last night paper, it upset me so much that I have now drafted a letter, we must all write to try and stop all this suffering. the address is Melanie Johnson, MP responsible for firework legislation at the Deptment of Trade and Industry, 1 Victoria Street, London, SW1H OET.

carole, Shaw (01/11/2005 at 14:44)

I can only agre with all previous comments, I too own horses and sheep and have dogs at home, earlier in the summer we got a phone call from a resident near to the fields where our sheep are kept , to say that someone was letting off fireworks directly into the sheeps field, we got there To find the sheep totally traumatised, the people responsible where celebrating a wedding(in daylight) i might add, and said they could not see a problem, theses were supposidly responsible adults, fueled by too much drink, so it is not just kids that are responsible. Why in these times of terrorist attacks can we not ban fireworks, as they did in northern ireland at the time of the troubles I do not know, I would urge all the commentators on here to write to their local mps and to alun michael, minister for rural affairs, to ask for a ban on these legal bombs, I also urge the press association to pass on all letters or coments they get on this topic, to pass them onto the government too.

Andy Meads, Isham, Northants (01/11/2005 at 16:44)

Where are the so called Animal loving MP`s ?
Every year thousands of pets, horses and livestock are targetted by sick morons, thinking fireworks and fires are fun.
We need a Licence to drive a vehicle, we need a licence to own a firearm / shotgun. We even have to have a licence for the relaxed sport of fishing.
Yet we can freely purchase explosives from Sweet Shops to Garden Centres and inflict terror at will all year round, with no chance of being prosecuted.
The new Animal welfare bill means nothing.

Rachel, Orkney (01/11/2005 at 23:00)

I don't own any horses/sheep/cattle etc; I love Bonfire Night and fireworks, but I do think that the sale of fireworks to the public was stopped. Sick, mindless prats will not be bothered by a fine and an interview with the police in front of their parents. If they had any intelligence and/or conscience they wouldn't be commiting such vile acts anyway. Yes, there is the argument that if fireworks are banned the minority have beaten the majority, but does it matter when we read about horsed being burnt; cats being burnt; dogs blown to pieces (and photographed as it happened, how evil is that?); guide dogs maimed and blinded - and all by 'youths' who all need birching to an inch of their lives.

Anthony, Accrington,Lancashire (02/11/2005 at 15:45)

Go to hell killjoys/spoilsports/nambypambys/partypoopers and funspoilers! Why should the sensible majority have the pleasure of private fireworks and bonfires taken away because of these silly stupid mong kids? These idiots should be immediately slammed into prison;stuff the children's and family charities who say they are only kids and should be left alone!!!

Tiger, Town (03/11/2005 at 08:27)

If it wasn't fireworks it'd be a box of matches. You can't ban all knives just because some people use them to stab people. Get real!! The point is why are these kids so bored that torching a barn seems like good fun?

Answer: because we aren't looking after them properly.

If you want to see what's up with the younger generation, take a quick look at the mess the older generations are in.

Andrew Lewis, Builth Wells (04/11/2005 at 21:44)

Sad to see what happened to Warrior as we bred him at our farm 3 years ago. Should never have happened to such a nice horse.

Janet Jarvis, Worcester, UK (05/11/2005 at 09:58)

I totally agree with the horse owner. As a past owner myself and an owner of two dogs, I feel very strongly that with so many sicko-thickos around, a ban is the only solution. It would also cut out the incidence of terrible accidents that happen.

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