A 38-year-old man facing attempted murder charges after an arson attack on a bar in Northern Ireland allegedly shouted "trick or treat" before throwing a lit petrol bomb directly at two people inside, a court has heard.
John Patrick Nixon appeared before a district judge in Newry, Co Down, accused of two counts of attempted murder in relation to the incident in Armagh city on Monday evening.
Mr Nixon, who spoke briefly to confirm his name, date of birth and that he understood the charges, is also charged with several other offences alleged to have been committed on the same day, including criminal damage to property and a vehicle elsewhere in Armagh earlier that evening.
No defence application for bail was made at the remand hearing in Newry Magistrates' Court and Mr Nixon, who is from Irish Street in Armagh, was remanded into custody to appear before a judge again next month.
During the hearing, a detective constable told the court that the Toby Jug bar on Irish Street had a significant number of people inside, including children, when the attack unfolded shortly before 9pm on Monday.
"Police attended and spoke with victims and witnesses who stated that a male entered the pub, shouted 'trick or treat' and then threw a lit petrol bomb directly towards two people in the bar," the officer said.
Two men, one aged in his 30s and one in his 60s, were taken to hospital with burn injuries described in court as "significant".
District judge Eamonn King was told that Mr Nixon was arrested later on Monday evening at an address on Chapel Lane in Armagh.
As well as two counts of attempted murder, Mr Nixon is also charged with arson with intent to endanger life; possession of a knife in a public place; and three counts of criminal damage.
The criminal damage charges relate to incidents on the Keady Road in Armagh earlier on Monday.
The court was also told that Mr Nixon made no reply to questions asked by detectives while in police custody.
He will appear before Armagh Magistrates' Court on 2 September via video-link.
Accreditation: PA
