Irish man denied bail in Sydney for setting fire to Christmas tree

A 28-year-old Irish carpenter in Sydney who allegedly threatened two people with a knife before setting a Christmas tree on fire has been denied bail.

Damien Halpin’s alleged actions caused AU$85,000 (€57,736) in damage to a flat.

The emergency services were called to a fire at Palmer Street in the eastern Sydney suburb of Woolloomooloo on New Year’s Day. The police found Mr Halpin with singed hair and smoke marks on his body and shoes.

The floor, wall and ceiling of the flat were damaged before firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze.

A number of people were evacuated from the block of flats and Mr Halpin was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

He was later released from hospital and charged with maliciously causing damage by fire, two counts of being armed with intent and having an outstanding warrant.

It is also understood that Mr Halpin’s work visa expired in September 2013.

His application for bail in Sydney’s Central Local Court was refused by Magistrate Les Mabbutt on Wednesday.

“There are serious allegations involving the use of violence,” Mr Mabbutt told the court. “The prosecution case is strong.”

The court was told that Mr Halpin held a knife to one person’s throat, made threats and set the Christmas tree on fire after drinking alcohol and possibly taking drugs.

His solicitor Michaela Noonan said he would stay away from alcohol and drugs, undergo urine testing, adhere to a curfew and report to police twice a day if given bail.

There was also an offer of a $3000 surety from Mr Halpin’s Scottish fiancée, and a promise to surrender his passport.

But the state prosecutor Stewart Thompson said Mr Halpin had a history of failing to appear at court and posed a serious risk of reoffending.

“The offences … involve the defendant taking hold of a weapon and [BEING]either physically or verbally threatening,” Mr Thompson told the court.

Mr Halpin was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on January 23rd.