Two alleged GAA club arsonists bailed

Two alleged arsonists were in court today (Monday, February 29) accused of damaging St Peter's GAA club in Lurgan.
Christopher Owens, accused of arson at St. Peter's GAA club, leaving Lisburn court.Christopher Owens, accused of arson at St. Peter's GAA club, leaving Lisburn court.
Christopher Owens, accused of arson at St. Peter's GAA club, leaving Lisburn court.

Christopher Owens (22) and Connor Mallon had been scheduled to appear in three weeks time but were brought before Lisburn Magistrates Court today as a result of them breaching police bail conditions barring them from contacting each other.

District Judge Peter King heard the pair were arrested on Sunday evening when they were spotted together in a car on Eastway in Lurgan.

Owens, from the Grange in Lurgan and 21-year-old Mallon, from Laganview Terrace in Moira are jointly charged with arson of a portable cabin at the GAA Club on North Street in Lurgan on 25 February this year and attempted burglary of the premises “with intent to cause unlawful damage” on the same date.

A police officer told the court he knew the facts surrounding the charges and that he believed he could connect the pair to the allegations.

St. Peter’s Social and Recreation Club at North Street in Lurgan was targeted shortly before 5.40am when police received a report of a blaze at the club and firefighters attended the scene, where it was established it had been started deliberately.

Damage was caused to the roof and wall of the property and a short time later police arrested the two suspects in the Victoria Place area of the town.

Releasing Owens and Mallon on their own bail Judge King reiterated that they were not to contact each other and ordered them to come back to court on 23 March.

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