Gardaí have launched an inquiry in Tralee, Co Kerry, following an air pistol attack on a boy in a primary school playground.
A Garda spokesman said the boy, a fifth class student, was hit in the side of the head by a single pellet yesterday afternoon. He was not seriously hurt.
A 16-year-old youth was arrested at the scene and a pistol was recovered. He was released after questioning and a file has been sent to the DPP.
The spokesman told ireland.comthat following the incident, gardaí spoke to a local shopkeeper who was selling the illegal pistols. A number of the fake firearms were recovered. A decision has yet to be made on whether the man will be charged.
Gardaí have appealed for parents to confiscate the weapons from children and either hand them in to Garda stations or destroy them.