Fireworks will be let off in Siġġiewi this weekend just a few feet away from farmhouses and a falconry, following a court ruling that the damage the owners claimed would be done to their properties was only "hypothetical".

The owners of the farmhouses and a neighbouring falconry had asked the court to issue an injunction as the fireworks were to be let off too close to their property. They claimed their lives and that of their animals, as well as their properties, could be endangered by the fireworks and unexploded fireworks falling into their properties posed a fire hazard.

The St Nicholas fireworks club argued that the area, known as Ta' Żgamerdi, just off Mqabba Road, had been used to let off fireworks for the Siġġiewi feast for the past 30 years. Moreover, the club's lawyer, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, pointed out that the group was covered by an insurance policy to the tune of €582,343.35.

Mr Justice Raymond Pace said that from the architects' plans presented to the court, the fireworks launchers were within the distances stipulated by law.

The judge also referred to a judgment handed down by Chief Justice Vincent De Gaetano last year in a similar case, where Marsa Sports Club had tried to stop fireworks being let off nearby following a fire which destroyed €200,000 worth of golf clubs and shoes. The fire was suspected to have been caused by debris from fireworks let off during the feast of Qormi.

The Chief Justice had ruled that the sports club's request to stop the pyrotechnic show was not covered by law.

The law bound him to allow the fireworks, given that the sports complex had not proven its right to protection, since the club could take safety precautions to cover its property.

Mr Justice Pace concluded that the group of owners had not managed to prove the essential elements of their claims, which remained "hypothetical", and turned down their request. In comments to The Times afterwards, Reno Scicluna, whose falconry touches on the field in question, said he had tried to convince the fireworks factory to move the firing area back but they would not budge.

"They offered to take it back 10 feet but that's not enough," Mr Scicluna said, adding that he was worried about the fireworks which would fail to explode.

"We want them to move at least 50 metres from there to avoid risk. I don't want to ruin the feast for anyone, I'm part of the village myself," he said.