Fireworks prosecution was in public interest says director

Turning a "blind eye" to Douglas Council's failure to gain the correct licence for a fireworks display would "open the floodgates" to other people doing the same. 

That's the belief of the Isle of Man's director of prosecutions who's argued that prosecuting was in the public interest. 

At Douglas Courthouse yesterday the council pleaded guilty to having no music or dancing licence for the event on Douglas Promenade on November 6th last year. 

The court was told it had applied for the correct licence for the day before but the event was postponed and therefore wasn't covered. 

Addressing the court Richard Butters revealed the chief executive of Douglas Borough Council had refused to be interviewed by police and an offer of a caution was also rejected by the organisation. 

He said he recognised that any fine imposed would have to be paid for from ratepayers' cash adding "the irony is not lost on the court". 

Defending the council its advocate said the matter "should have never have come to court" describing it as a "truly victimless crime".

He also refuted prosecution claims that the public liability insurance, which covered the 6,000 attendees, would have been invalidated due to the breach. 

Fining the council £250 and ordering it to pay costs to the same amount Magistrates said they didn't accept it was just a "technical offence". 

They said as organisers of large scale public events it was "all the more important" for the council to "comply with licensing laws".