The Belfast High Court was informed on Monday about an incident of arson on a residential property in Derry. The dreadful event resulted in the death of three dogs, and caused damages estimated at £70,000.
Charges have been brought against a 37-year-old individual named Connor Lishman for allegedly initiating the fire that devastated the home in the Meadowview Crescent area of Derry. Mr Lishman, an Eastway Garden resident, was apprehended amongst a group of onlookers on the day of the fire, on the 16th of June, as a judge was informed.
Mr. Lishman, whose bail petition was denied, stands accused of instigating the fire with malevolent intent, burglary, and inducing fatal harm to the dogs. He is further charged with assault on three police officers who reached the scene.
A woman and her juveniles who inhabit the referenced property were not home when the incident occurred. The Crown’s attorney, Sarah Minford, announced that the tragic destruction of the woman’s three dogs resulted from the fire, with the repair bills for the interior of the house approximated to be around £70,000. The mentioned figure doesn’t account for any remedial work needed for structural damages sustained by adjacent properties.
Surveillance footage demonstrated a person clothed in a white hoodie departing the premises just before the spread of the flames. Soon after, video footage showed fumes surging and flames jetting out into the yard.
An anonymous eye-witness reported seeing a man wearing a similar outfit with a striking neck tattoo around the same time. Mr. Lishman, who fits the given description, was apprehended by the police as they scanned the spectators watching the fire.
Upon his arrest, it was alleged by Ms. Minford that he reacted violently, resorting to kicking, attempted spitting at two constables, and threatening to bite another officer’s nose. On the same evening, he is also suspected of breaking into a residence on Osborne Street with the intention of stealing medication.
Mr. Lishman’s request for bail was opposed on the grounds that he was familiar with the victims and could potentially disrupt the ongoing probe. His defence attorney, Declan Quinn, confirmed that his client is contesting the fire-starting allegations.
Upon reflecting on the evidence related to identification, Mr Quinn voiced concerns: “The accused was detained amid a group of individuals, not a solitary figure fitting the description in a remote location.” Regardless, Justice Humphreys concluded that there were no alterations in circumstances justifying Lishman’s liberation. He declared: “Whilst this individual’s way of life may have seen considerable refinement in the recent past, I find myself compelled to reject the application.”