Adelaide Hills arsonist Gregory John McGannon sighs, raises eyebrows, as victims describe their loss, trauma and terror

The victims of the 2021 Adelaide Hills bushfires have revealed their pain, loss and trauma in court – eliciting an inappropriate reaction from the convicted firebug.

The victims of the 2021 Adelaide Hills bushfires have told a court of their terror while confronting the “tsunami of flame” – as the arsonist who lit them listened and sighed.

Appearing in the District Court on Tuesday by video link, Gregory John McGannon sighed, fidgeted with papers and shook his head during the reading of victim impact statements.

He appeared inattentive as homeowner Inta Sellick described the desperate efforts she and her family made to save their property from the devastation set loose by McGannon.

Gregory John McGannon during his trial. Picture: Emma Brasier

“It was a horrific fire that consumed our lives, the lives of our community and the lives of our wildlife … we could see the tsunami of flame rising,” she told the court.

“Flames and smoke for 360 degrees, surrounding us, our home, everything we cared for … 28 years of hard work, destroyed, and now we start all over again.

“But this is different … this is to regain our property from someone who deliberately lit a fire under our homes in a deliberate act of terror.

“Like the trees, we remain burnt.”

McGannon, 63, of Hallett Cove, was found guilty by a jury of lighting the January 24, 2021 bushfires at Cherry Gardens and Clarendon, and driving dangerously to escape police.

Prosecutors alleged at trial that, after lighting seven fires, he was caught with cigarette lighters, defaced licence plates and a blood alcohol reading of 0.145.

Since his arrest – during which he told police he spent “30 years in the CFS” – McGannon has maintained he was trying to extinguish the fires, not light them.

BREAKING: Victims of the 2021 Cherry Gardens bushfire have stared down the arsonist in court describing the former CFS volunteer's actions as ‘shameful’. Hear more in 7NEWS Adelaide at 6pm. #7NEWSpic.twitter.com/DjYVk9sRr3

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) November 21, 2023

CFS crews battle the Cherry Gardens bushfire from the ground. Picture: Josh Boyce

On Tuesday, Hills resident Kerry Reid read a victim impact statement on behalf of her father, who died in August last year, and her mother.

“I cannot really describe it, how one person’s actions ruined my life … it was a dastardly deed,” she quoted her mother as saying.

“It was not an act of nature, it was an act of callous stupidity … we had a good life, I can’t believe it ended like this.”

A neighbouring resident said returning to the fire scene was “like the apocalypse”, while another said his life had “been destroyed” by the blaze.

McGannon sighed loudly and raised his eyebrows as their statements were read.

Chris Allen, for McGannon, said he could not yet make submissions on his client’s behalf because he was waiting for expert medical reports.

Judge Emily Telfer remanded McGannon in custody until next week, when the final victim impact statements will be read, ahead of sentencing submissions in February.