Teenager accused of Co Tyrone bungalow fire was standing 'laughing and clapping' outside property, court told
A teenager alleged to have set fire to a bungalow in Dungannon was found by police standing outside the property laughing and clapping, a court has heard.
Terence Maughan, aged 19, from Trevor Hill, Newry, was refused bail when he appeared by video link at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday from Dungannon custody suite accused of arson.
He is charged with unlawfully damaging by fire a property, namely 4 Crannog Way, Dungannon, with intent to endanger life on January 23.
A detective constable said that he could connect Maughan to the charge.
The officer told the court that following a report from the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS), police arrived to find the property on fire at Crannog Way with large amounts of smoke coming from it.
He said they were informed by the NIFRS that there were two ignition points - in a rear bedroom and the kitchen.
The officer said flames from the fire were a danger to other properties in the vicinity of the blaze.
He said there was no one at home at the time, but the parents of the accused believed he was responsible as there had been an argument between them.
The officer said Maughan was standing watching the fire and was laughing and clapping outside the property.
He said a lighter was found on the accused who, he alleged, told police that he set fire to the property and thought it was funny at the fime but now regretted it.
The detective constable said police were opposed to bail as there was a domestic history between the parties and his parents were "extremely afraid of the defendant”.
Applying for bail, defence solicitor Jarlath Faloon said Maughan had autism of an extreme form and had been in sheltered accommodation in Newry until Christmas and then began living with his parents.
Mr Faloon said if granted bail he had an address to go to in Newry which was some 30 miles from Dungannon.
He added the defendant had made a full admission to the offences and gave police a full account of what happened.
The district judge refused bail as there was a risk of further offences.
She remanded Maughan into custody and adjourned the case to Dungannon Magistrates Court on February 11.