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Man accused of setting derelict Portadown building alight in arson attack to face Crown Court

He is accused of setting fire to two buildings - at Church Street and William Street in Portadown - less than two months apart

A man accused of two offences of arson on property in Portadown will face Crown Court proceedings next month.

The 48-year-old appeared at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday for the purposes of a preliminary enquiry (PE), the legal process during which a case is referred to the higher court.

Adrejs Ivanovs, of Clonavon Avenue in Portadown, is charged with two counts of arson.

As the charges were read, it was heard that the defendant is alleged to have destroyed by fire certain property namely a derelict building situated to the rear of Church Street, Portadown on December 20, 2020,

He is further accused of committing the same offence at an address on William Street on February 24, of this year.

Appearing via videolink from Maghaberry, Ivanovs made no objection to the holding of a preliminary enquiry.

Prosecution submitted that based on the papers before the court there was a prima facie case to answer.

Defence barrister Joel Lindsay made no contrary submissions.

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