Birkby woman faces arson charges after flat blazes

Jul 14 2009 by Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A 47-YEAR-OLD woman has gone on trial after fires in a block of flats in Huddersfield.

Mary McDonagh is accused of recklessly endangering the lives of residents at a six-storey block of flats in Birkby.

McDonagh has denied two charges of arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered arising out alleged incidents at her own flat in King Cliffe Flats at Halifax Old Road.

Several families live in the block of flats, which is owned by Kirklees Council.

Prosecutor Sarah Barlow told Bradford Crown Court yesterday that West Yorkshire fire crews were called to McDonagh’s flat on consecutive days in March this year.

Miss Barlow alleged that on the first occasion clothing had been set alight in the living room of McDonagh's flat.

The next day fire officers were again called out and found the remnants of a fire involving books and magazines in the same room.