Thirty-year-old Magherafelt man alleged to have started house fire, released on bail
A Magherafelt man allegedly barricaded himself into a house and started a fire in the kitchen, the local Magistrates Court was told on Wednesday.
Thirty-year-old Caolan Carlisle from Tulach Way in the town, faces charges of arson endangering life, and unlawfully possessing pregablin on September 18 last.
Carlisle, who appeared in court via video link from Maghaberry Prison, was released on bail of £500 until April 8.
District Judge Conor Heaney made it a condition of bail that he resides at an address in Greenvale Park, Magherafelt, and is excluded from entering Tullach Way or Meetinghouse Avenue, Maghera.
He also ordered that he does not contact the complainant, his mother, or any other prosecution witness; refrains from taking alcohol and illicit drugs, and submits to tests if required by police.
The judge also imposed a 10pm to 7am curfew which will be electronically monitored.
He warned Carlisle that any breach would result in bail being revoked and him being remanded back into custody.
The court heard that shortly after midnight, police and the fire service attended the scene of a fire at a house in the Tulach Way area of Magherafelt believing that the Carlisle may have been trapped in the house.
A police officer said the fire had been started in the kitchen and the doors had been barricaded. The property was filled with black smoke but there was no one in the building.
He alleged Carlisle had earlier rung a neighbour and told her he intended to kill himself and to tell the injured party, his mother.
The officer said Carlisle was later located at an address in Castledawson and taken into custody.