Fireworks manufacturer acquitted in case which caused teenager loss of an eye

A fireworks manufacturer was this morning acquitted of having caused an incident which led to a 13-year-old boy losing an eye.

The incident happened in Floriana in 2009 during the ground fireworks festival when a piece of a Catherine wheel became dislodged and hit the boy, Kurt Connor in an eye.

He had been watching the festival with friends behind police barriers.

In handing down judgement, the court said that insufficient evidence had been presented for a conviction. The court could not decide, on the basis of the available evidence, whether proper manufacturing processes had been followed and whether adequate safety precautions in the letting off of the fireworks had been observed.

The accused, Manuel Farrugia, 71, holder of a Licence A for fireworks manufacturing for 40 years, was therefore acquitted, without prejudice to possible civil proceedings.

The court also urged the insurance company which covered the festival to compensate the boy. 

Drs Marushka Debono and Michael Falzon were defence counsel.