A north Dublin mother said she was "disgusted" after her 12-year-old son found a syringe on a local beach.
The young lad had been making sand castles with his three-year-old brother when he made the shocking find on the beach in Balbriggan on Saturday.
His horrified mother told Dublin Live said she was shocked when her son picked up the needle.
She said: "He said, 'Hey man what’s this?' I had to explain to him if he ever sees anything like that again to come and tell me and not pick it up.
Luckily neither boy was injured by the discarded needle.
Their mum said: We went straight home. I couldn’t believe it.
"We are lucky the baby didn’t pick it up."
The concerned mum shared a picture of the needle on a local Facebook group to warn other parents.
Locals were shocked at the grim discovery.
One woman said: "Disgraceful. No regard for others."
Another added: "We should organize patrols to take care of our beautiful beach.
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"In coordination with local garda, a citizen patrol, so we can report and stop this kind of behaviour.
"This is our home, where our children play, we should feel free to let them out play and socialise."
Local councillor Malachy Quinn confirmed he had contacted the Environment Department of Fingal County Council to inform them of the incident.
