Gardai say toy gun that injured child is a firearm

A toy gun, which shoots balls of paint at speed and caused serious injury to a six-year-old boy in April, has been classed as a firearm after ballistics tests were carried out on it by the Garda.

Gardaí carried out the tests on the Super Paintball Splat toy, which is widely available in Ireland, after a request from the injured boy's parents.

The results of the Garda testing have prompted renewed calls from the Consumers' Association of Ireland (CAI) for the toy to be banned.

"We regard this as extremely serious," said the CAI chairman, Mr Michael Kilcoyne. "We think the Director of Consumer Affairs should move to have it 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's good enough, they should be compelled to do that".

The Director of Consumer Affairs, Ms Carmel Foley, said she would take legal advice before acting.

However, she added: "In general, we would take action when toys are banned but are on sale. But this one complies with EU regulations".

The family of the injured child, from Greystones, Co Wicklow, last night told The Irish Times the boy has still not completely recovered from the incident which took place almost six weeks ago.

They confirmed gardaí had told them a ballistics test confirmed the toy was a firearm. They have contacted the office of the Director of Consumer Affairs to make a complaint.

Last night they repeated their request that the Super Paintball Splat gun be withdrawn from sale in Ireland. "We are concerned that somebody from the age of eight up could buy a firearm," a family member said.

The toy gun, made in China and distributed by the Olop Leisure Group of Torquay, works by firing small hard balls containing liquid paint at high speed. It says on the packaging that use is only recommended under the direct supervision of adults.

It also warns against firing at eyes or face and tells users to "always use (accompanying) goggles when playing with Paintball Splat".

Olop last night said it had no comment to make on the Garda test. When the child's injuries were first reported in The Irish Times in April, a spokesman for the group said there had been no complaints about the gun in the Britain where "hundreds of thousands" had been sold.