{
  "id": 17947613,
  "title": "Investigation after needles found in Halloween sweets",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/investigation-after-needles-found-in-halloween-sweets",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-03T10:14:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTE News",
    "slug": "rte-news",
    "url": "https://www.rte.ie/news/2026/1103/1597764-donegal-halloween-sweets/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Gardaí, the police force in Ireland, are currently investigating a disturbing report that small metal pins were discovered in Halloween sweets collected by children during trick-or-treating in the towns of Ballybofey and Stranorlar in County Donegal. Savannah McDaid, a resident of Stranorlar, and Philippa Falls from Ballybofey, both reported finding the pins after their children had been out trick-or-treating. Ms McFalls' son found a long pin embedded in a bar of candy, while Ms McDaid discovered small metal pins inside four different sweets that her three-year-old son had collected. Ms McDaid shared a picture of the sweets with the pins on social media, expressing shock at the discovery. She used a fridge magnet to stick the sweets together, only to be horrified when she ripped the wrappers off and found the pins. Ms McDaid expressed disbelief that such incidents could occur in Donegal, stating that it ruins the fun for the children and is potentially dangerous. Her post on social media prompted Ms Falls to also speak out, describing the incident as horrifying and frightening. Local Sinn Féin Councillor Dakota Nic Mheanman described the findings as alarming, emphasizing that parents should not have to worry about such dangers while taking their children trick-or-treating. The Gardaí received a report of the incident and have stated that further investigations are ongoing.",
  "summary": "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.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}