A Waterford office worker has seriously injured seven of his colleagues is in what is believed to be a psychotic rage caused by listening to Christmas FM.
Daniel Kelly (42), an employee at a local printing office in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford was seen to be visibly irritated and annoyed for several hours on Friday afternoon and Monday morning before screaming “I can’t take this s**t anymore”.
He then proceeded to push his desktop computer off the desk before destroying all of the office’s Christmas decorations and trees.
It was during this Grinch-like riot that Mr. Kelly attacked several of his fellow employees who attempted to intervene, including one man who fell unconscious after being strangled with tinsel.
Those who knew Mr. Kelly believe that it was the collective decision to change the office radio station last Thursday morning that sparked this violent act.
“He never really seemed to like this Christmas songs,” Barbara Jordan, Mr. Kelly’s colleague told Oxygen.ie. “Come to think of it, he always seemed to hate Christmas in general.”
“He never came to the Christmas parties, he never wore a jumper. This though, I never know listening to those songs could literally drive you mad.”
Armed Gardaí were able to restrain Mr. Kelly at the scene before he was transported to the psychiatric unit of University Hospital Waterford.
Those at the scene say they heard Mr. Kelly wearily singing “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” to himself as he was stretchered into an ambulance.
An Garda Síochána and the HSE have since made a joint statement urging members of the public to only engage in moderate listening to festive songs.
“We are urging everybody to limit their listening to such stations which encourage the continuous listening of songs associated with this holiday,” a spokesperson said.
“Prolonged exposure to such songs can, as seen in this instance, lead to irritation, impatience, general unrest and in extreme circumstances can also result in violence and psychosis.”
“At the end of the day, nobody needs to listen to Jingle Bells ten times a day. It’s shite to begin with anyway.”