FIRE BUG’S APOLOGY
Arsonist and friends front court over footy club fire
THE habitual fire bug who started a blaze that gutted a Gordonvale footy club has apologised.
“Sorry for what I did, I won’t do it again,” the teen told Cairns Childrens Court.
One of four juveniles who destroyed the Pyramid Power clubhouse on January 26, the girl was the only defendant to apologise for her role in the crime. She and three co-accused, all now 15, pleaded guilty to arson yesterday.
The court heard the four – two males and two females – sought refuge from the rain at the locked club on Australia Day. The boys kicked into the building and all four clambered through the open roof into the toilets and storage rooms, where they found mattresses intended for charity.
“You all started kicking holes in the toilet doors, jumped on mattresses and threw Dettol on the ground,” Judge Anthony Rafter said.
One girl set toilet paper alight and threw it over seats and exposed beams.
All four joined in the destruction until the second girl realised they would suffocate from smoke inhalation and urged them to escape.
Judge Rafter said the child who lit the paper had a history of arson, including setting grassfires around Gordonvale that led to the evacuation of several houses.
The Australia Day destruction cost more than $140,000 in damages and robbed Pyramid Power of their clubhouse, which could not be salvaged.
“The lack of facilities in 2019 has affected their abilities to run home games and has led to a reduction in the number of members,” crown prosecutor Jodie Crane said. “There has been a real financial impact.”
All four defending counsel told the court their clients had unstable upbringings including exposure to abuse, domestic violence and lack of parental supervision.
Judge Rafter sentenced the defendants to two years of probation and 100 hours of community service.
Pyramid Power president Jimmy Floyd has been asked for comment.