An Armagh man has appeared in court charged with two counts of attempted murder following an arson attack in Armagh on Monday night.
John Patrick Nixon (38), of Corrigan Court, appeared at Newry Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday also faces charges of arson with intent to endanger life, possession of a blade or point, and three counts of criminal damage.
Detective Constable Michael Riordan told the court that on Monday, August 18, police received a 999 call at around 5.30pm reporting a brick being thrown through a window on the Keady Road. The householder also reported the windscreen of a vehicle at the property being smashed.
Shortly afterwards, a second 999 call was made reporting another incident in the area – this time a kitchen window at a nearby property had also been smashed by a brick.
CCTV footage from nearby shop premises showed a bald male, dressed in dark clothing, walking up a driveway and leaving a short time later. A local resident later contacted police to say she could identify the man as John Patrick Nixon.
Later that evening, at just before 9pm, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service alerted police to a petrol bomb attack at the Toby Jug pub on Irish Street. It was reported that two people had suffered significant burn injuries.
Police were told by victims and witnesses that a male had entered the premises, shouted “trick or treat”, and threw a lit petrol bomb directly towards two people inside. At the time, a football match was being shown, traditional music was being played, and children were present in the bar.
CCTV footage showed the male suspect walking along Irish Street carrying a plastic bag, which he set down at the junction of Irish Street and Ogle Street. He was then seen removing an item from the bag before lighting what appeared to be a bottle with a rag protruding from the top.
The footage captured the moment the male walked into the Toby Jug and orange flames lit up the doorway. The man then walked calmly out, crossed the street, and appeared to remove an item – believed to be a large knife – from his waistband.
As children and an adult fled the bar, the suspect brandished the knife before retrieving the bag and walking away in the direction of Ogle Street. He was described as bald, wearing a dark blue coat and dark trousers.
At 7.50pm that evening, the Detective Constable said CCTV also recorded Nixon at a local filling station, where he was seen putting £2 worth of petrol into what appeared to be a water bottle, paying for it, and leaving.
Then, at 9.19pm, police received a call from a member of the public reporting that John Patrick Nixon was at an address in Chapel Lane, Armagh. It was quickly established that the description of the suspect in the window -smashing incidents matched the description of the man allegedly responsible for the petrol bomb attack.
Police attended the property and apprehended Nixon. Inside, they found another prepared petrol bomb and a bag containing a knife.
Nixon was subsequently arrested and taken to Lurgan police station, where he made no comment to all questions put to him during interview.
Defence barrister Joel Lindsay made no application for bail and asked for an adjournment of two weeks.
“It’s a bit early, he knows that,” Mr Lindsay said.
Nixon was asked to confirm his name and if he understood the charges to which he replied: “I do indeed, yeh.”
The case was adjourned with Nixon due back in Armagh Magistrates’ Courts, via videolink, on September 2.
