A fireworks expert died as a result of burns received in an explosion in his workshop, Dublin City Coroner's Court heard yesterday. Mr Micklos Menis (48), a British national, with an address in Bray, died in St on 13th July 13th, eight days after an explosion in a warehouse he was using at East Hill, Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow.
A post-mortem examination showed he had burns to 70 per cent of his body and that he died of resulting complications.
His partner, Ms Maria Hingerty, said Mr Menis operated Theatre of Fire, which he founded in England in 1984. He was a pyro-technician of more than 20 years' experience.
She said she arrived at the East Hill warehouse at 5.30 p.m. on July 5th and found Mr Menis doing "a big tidy up."
The shed contained gas bottles, paint, the remains of Roman candles, paraffin, white spirit and other inflammable materials, but they did not store live fireworks there as it would have been illegal.
Ms Hingerty said she spoke to her partner. She turned away and moments later there was a huge explosion.
A short time after the accident he told her he was removing the igniter from a spent Roman candle when it sparked and caused the explosion.
Mr Clifford Evans, station officer at Greystones Fire Station, said he believed the fire was caused by an explosion of gas or other volatile substance.
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.