Investigation after pins found in Halloween sweets

Updated / Tuesday, 3 Nov 2026 10:15

Gardaí are investigating a report that small metal pins were found in sweets collected by children during trick-or-treating in the Ballybofey and Stranorlar areas in Co Donegal.

Savannah McDaid from Stranorlar and Philippa Falls from Ballybofey discovered the pins after their children had been trick-or-treating in different areas of the twin towns.

Ms McFalls' son found a long pin embedded in a bar while Ms McDaid found small metal pins inside four different sweets collected by her three-year-old son.

Ms McDaid shared a picture of the sweets with the small metal pins on social media.

"Mum had seen photos or videos before and told me to check them. I got a fridge magnet and four of the sweets - two chocolate bars and two chewy bars - stuck to the magnet. I just ripped them open and I was shocked at what I found," she said.

The small pins appeared to have been carefully pierced through the wrapping paper and into the various bars.

Speaking to Donegal Daily, Ms McDaid said: "I just thought I would check them and they'll be grand. I got such a shock when I took the wrappers off. Never in a million years did I think we would find something like this happening here in Donegal.

"It is just crazy and it ruins the fun for the kids. I’ve had to chuck most of the stuff in the bin. Some of the stuff was inside wee bags and they’re all fine.

"The scary thing is that one of the pins was inside a wee Milky Way bar and you’d give that to younger kids because it’s soft inside."

The social media post from Ms McDaid prompted Ms McFalls to speak out publicly.

"I have heard of these types of incidents before, but not here," she said.

"The pin that was inside Joshua’s bar didn’t even show up with a magnet.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I think we would have something like this here in Ballybofey. I don’t know Savannah, but I know her mum and when I saw the post I told Joshua not to eat any more of the sweets," she said.

Ms McFalls' son checked the confectionery he collected with a fridge magnet.

She said he was going to attempt to eat the offending bar when the kitchen light reflected back from the sweet.

"I just got a glimpse of the needle part when I was going to eat it," he said.

Ms McFalls' said: "When I saw that pin, I was nearly shaking and I just thought how could people be so sadistic? It was like an embroidery or sewing machine needle that was in the chocolate.

"It is just awful to think that this is happening here in Donegal. My son and two of his friends were out for a bit of craic and harmless fun and people were so welcoming. It is horrifying and frightening. How many more are out there? These are potentially fatal.

"Someone has set out with the intention of causing a fatal injury or severely hurting a child. It is just beyond belief that this has happened," she said.

Local Sinn Féin Councillor Dakota Nic Mheanman described the incidents as alarming.

"It’s very worrying and alarming that parents have found the pins in their children’s sweets.

"Parents should never have to worry that taking their children trick-or-treating would pose such dangers," she said.

In a statement, gardaí said they received a report of an incident and enquiries are ongoing.