Pubs arson trend
There have been a few cases lately of arson attacks on pubs.
One of the stories that’s got a lot of attention has been the fire at a pub part-owned by Collingwood football champion Dane Swan.
The builder, Andrew McMahon, 47, has admitted to destroying the pub because he ran out of time to finish the renovations.
He has admitted to police that he got himself into the pub, allegedly using a scissor lift to enter the beer garden, and lit the fire as his October 15 deadline last year approached.
The York St hotel was destroyed 10 days before the deadline for the renovations.
The damage to the hotel and its neighbouring building has been estimated to be more than $5.1 million.
“I was in a panic, I just needed a couple of weeks for the build. I’m truly sorry,” he allegedly told police.
McMahon now faces one charge of intentionally and without lawful excuse destroying the hotel and neighbouring buildings belonging to Albert Park Leisure.
And over in Western Australia, five men have appeared in court charged with setting fire to the historic Premier Hotel in Albany.
The defendants include the licensee, Graeme Cooper.
They appeared in the Stirling Gardens Magistrates court in Perth charged with various offences including arson, attempted fraud and endangering the life, health and safety of a person.
For his part, Mr Cooper has indicated he will plead not guilty to the charges.
He told police that two men wearing disguises had made their way into the pub and had confronted him in the early hours of May 13. According to Cooper, they allegedly stole money from the safe and set the building alight.
Notwithstanding his version of the events, Mr Cooper and the other four are in custody and have been remanded until another appearance on November 2.
The blaze caused up to $2 million in damage and allegedly endangered the lives of four people.
by Leon Gettler, October 5th 2016
