Derry arson: Man in court after three dogs die in house fire

The police officer told the court that police were called by the Northern Ireland Fire Rescue Service (NIFRS) to the blaze at a house occupied by a woman, her four children and her dogs.

The three dogs died in the fire and the police witness said the woman who owned them was “quite distressed”.

CCTV footage played in court showed a woman leaving the house and a short time later a male wearing a white hoodie leaving the same address.

The footage then showed smoke and flames coming from the property.

When the defendant was arrested, he was said to have become violent and allegedly assaulted three officers before being restrained.

The mother of the woman who lived in the house contacted police to say she had been told Mr Lishman had entered the house and stolen medication.

The officer said that the defendant had shown “a flagrant disregard for the rule of law”.

She added that there was “a lot of anger” in the community and there were fears for the defendant’s safety if he were released on bail.