Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 22433Releasing a flare or firework (Section 80(1)(a) Explosives Act 1875) · Co. Clare · 30 Oct 2022

Ennistymon man sentenced for releasing flare at Clare senior football final

David Wheeler (49) of Ennistymon pleaded guilty at Ennis District Court to releasing a flare at the Clare senior football final at Cusack Park, Ennis, on 30 October 2022, and was placed on probation by Judge Larkin.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced11 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatDavid Wheeler, 49, of Main Street, Ennistymon, lit a flare at Cusack Park, Ennis, during the Clare senior football final between Ennistymon and Éire Óg (clareecho.ie)
  • whatÉire Óg won the Clare senior football final against Ennistymon (clareecho.ie)
  • whatGarda Elizabeth McDonagh observed him holding a lit flare and waving it around on the river side stand at Cusack Park while the stand was crowded (clareecho.ie)
  • whatHe was apprehended and after numerous orders to drop the flare, he did so after 30 seconds (clareecho.ie)
  • whatThe flare was kicked away and made safe (clareecho.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 30 October 2022 (clareecho.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with releasing a flare or firework at Cusack Park contrary to Section 80(1)(a) of the Explosives Act 1875 as substituted by Section 68 of the Criminal Justice Act (clareecho.ie)
  • courtHe pleaded guilty at Ennis District Court (clareecho.ie)
  • otherMs Roche noted a photo in The Clare Champion showed many people had flares when the game was over, and a video showed the area around Wheeler was not packed (clareecho.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 11 Feb2023
    Sentencedclareecho.ie, first report
    Ennistymon man charged for releasing flare on county final day - Clare Echo

    Court appearance, guilty plea, sentencing under the Probation Act, and details of the incident including the judge's comments.

    convicted, David Wheeler, 49, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)David Wheeler