Carlow father had €600 worth of fireworks at home
Illustration purposes only Photo: iStock
Father of autistic children had €600 of fireworks in home A FATHER who bought €600 worth of imported fireworks to put on a private Halloween show for his three autistic children has been told by a judge that if he could afford the fireworks, he could afford a fine of the same amount.
Anthony Ward (35) of The Laurels, Tullow Road, Carlow pleaded guilty at Carlow District Court to possession of fireworks without a licence.
The court heard that at 10am on 31 October 2023 – Halloween – gardaí executed a search warrant at a property on Tullow Road, Carlow and found a quantity of fireworks worth €600 in Mr Ward’s home.
Mr Ward was present in his home at the time and made full admissions, telling gardaí he had the fireworks because he was going to let them off at Halloween for his children. It was established that he had no licence for the imported fireworks.
The court heard that Mr Ward has 71 previous convictions, though none for similar offences. Insp Conor Nolan said they were primarily road traffic offences. Mr Ward’s most recent conviction dates from 2018, for a drink-driving offence, for which he was disqualified from driving for six years.
The maximum penalty for the offence is a €2,000 fine and six months in prison.
In mitigation, barrister Eamonn O’Moore said his client is a father of three autistic children and was supported in court by his wife.
“His wrongdoing is accepted,” said Mr O’Moore, adding that Mr Ward had the fireworks because “his children aren’t good with crowds” and he bought them “with a view to putting on a fireworks show” for them at home.
“I’m not pleading this as an excuse, but those are my instructions,” he said, adding that his client was fully co-operative with gardaí and has come to “no adverse attention since 2018.” “I certainly accept that,” said Judge Andrew McCarthy. However, he observed that “a quantity of explosive materials had been stored in a house where there were children with special needs,” adding: “This is just an observation.” The amount of fireworks found, he said, would give rise to “suspicion that they are other than for personal use.” Mr O’Moore told the court that his client had €100 for a donation, should the court wish.
“In the circumstances, given the amount of fireworks involved, I am not going to consider a poor box donation,” said Judge McCarthy. “I am imposing a fine of €600 and 12 months to pay. If he can pay €600 for fireworks he can pay a €600 fine.” “I am not going to impose a custodial sentence given he is a man who hasn’t come to attention since 2018,” he added.
Addressing Mr Ward, the judge said: “I wish you the very best – and best not to do it again.”
