Man charged with church arson attacks

A MAN facing charges of arson and criminal damage to Protestant and Catholic churches in Co Tyrone has been granted bail

A MAN facing charges of arson and criminal damage to Protestant and Catholic churches in Co Tyrone has been granted bail. Mr Desmond Campbell (28), of no fixed address and originally from Dungannon, had been in custody since his arrest a month ago.

At Cookstown Magistrates Court yesterday Mr Maurice McHugh made it a condition of the bail that Mr Campbell reside in a hostel in Ballymena. He is also to refrain from taking solvents and report weekly to the Probation Service.

Mr Campbell is accused of setting fire to Derryloran Church of Ireland church in Cookstown damaging a religious statue in nearby Holy Trinity Catholic church and damaging statues and headstones in a cemetery at Dungannon.

An RUC officer told the court Mr Campbell would face further charges of a similar nature. He was remanded on personal bail of £250 to Cookstown Magistrates' Court on January 22nd.