A 39-year-old Armagh man accused of a petrol bomb attack on a city bar which left two people with significant burns has been refused compassionate bail to visit his father’s grave – in order to mark his birthday.
John Patrick Nixon, of Corrigan Court, Irish Street, appeared via videolink from Maghaberry Prison before Armagh Magistrates’ Court, sitting in Newry, on Tuesday.
Nixon is currently on remand in connection with an alleged arson attack with intent to endanger life.
The court heard the case relates firstly to a brick being thrown through the window of an address in Armagh and, later, to a petrol bomb attack on the Toby Jug pub in the city.
A prosecutor outlined that Nixon was allegedly identified on CCTV approaching the Toby Jug carrying a plastic bag. He was said to have removed an item from the bag, crossed the road to the bar, lit the object in his hand and walked inside.
“There’s immediately a flash of orange flames with fire coming from the doorway,” the court was told. The suspect is then seen to “calmly” exit the bar, walk along the street and remove a large knife from the waistband of his jacket.
Two people suffered significant burn injuries in the incident and a number of children were on the premises at the time.
The court also heard Nixon has a “significant record”.
Tuesday’s hearing was listed solely for a compassionate bail application, with Nixon seeking temporary release to visit his father’s grave on what was described as his father’s birthday.
A defence barrister explained: “His father’s birthday was actually on the 22nd of March but unfortunately, at that time, he was [a] sentenced prisoner.”
He added that Nixon had previously been granted compassionate bail “in similar circumstances in 2024”.
District Judge Anne Marshall queried: “Somebody let him out in 2024 to visit his father’s grave on his father’s birthday?”
The defence replied that that earlier period of compassionate bail had “passed off without incident”.
Judge Marshall said she was “not persuaded” the current request met the threshold for compassionate bail, particularly given the timing.
“My view then is strengthened when we find out that his birthday was actually a month ago,” she said.
“But if I’m wrong about the fact that this doesn’t fall within the compassionate arena, I would absolutely refuse it on the basis of the likelihood of reoffending and not keeping conditions based on his breach of previous court orders and his lengthy record. So it’s most firmly refused.”
Detective Constable Michael Riordan, who had been sworn to give police objections to bail, was ultimately not required to address the court following the judge’s ruling.
