Alleged Adelaide Hills arsonist Gregory McGannon told arresting police he’d been in CFS for 30 years, court hears

See the video as the alleged Cherry Gardens arsonist is arrested, telling police he didn’t light the bushfires – but saw who did and tried to stop him “after 30 years in the CFS”.

A man allegedly caught in the act of lighting the last of seven Adelaide Hills bushfires told police he had spent “30 years in the CFS” and was trying to extinguish the blaze, a court has heard.

On Tuesday, a District Court jury watched SA Police bodycam footage of Gregory John McGannon’s arrest, in January 2021, on charges of arson.

In it, Mr McGannon – described by the arresting officer as shirtless, red-faced, sweaty and beer-bellied – denies any wrongdoing, saying “I was in the CFS”.

“The bastard lit it, I saw him light it and I thought ‘you bloody idiot’,” he says in the recording.

“I didn’t start a fire, I didn’t … I didn’t light any light … this asshole, I saw him lighting it, I watched the guy that lit it.

“I didn’t light anything mate, I watched the bastard light it … I tapped it out because I saw somebody light it. I did the right thing after 30 years in the CFS … I stopped it.”

Footage of the arrest has been provided as evidence to the court. Picture: Courts SA

He denies lighting the fires during his arrest. Picture: Courts SA

Gregory McGannon during a jury visit at the Cherry Gardens CFS fire station. Picture: Emma Brasier

CFS battle the Cherry Gardens bushfire from the ground. Picture: Alex Thomson

Mr McGannon, 63, of Hallett Cove, has pleaded not guilty to lighting the January 24, 2021 bushfires at Cherry Gardens and Clarendon, and to driving dangerously to escape police.

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

On Tuesday, SA Police Constable David Aikman said he and his patrol partner saw Mr McGannon getting into his mother’s car as it was parked on the side of a Hills road.

“He was caucasian, aged in his late 50s or early 60s, and appeared quite red-faced and sweaty … he had a bit of a beer belly and was only wearing shorts,” he said.

“Then I observed what I would describe as a flash to the left of the car … it was flames, about one metre in height and about one to two metres in diameter, about one metre to the left of the passenger side … the grass was about 30cm tall.”

He said Mr McGannon drove off and they pursued as he reached speeds of 120km/h along the 80km/h road and overtook three cars against solid and double white lines.

Constable Aikman said Mr McGannon eventually stopped and was arrested, with the proceedings recorded on his bodycam.

Asked, on video, why his shorts are wet, Mr McGannon replies: “I went for a swim.”

Asked why he has a cigarette lighter in his pocket, he says: “Because I smoke.”

The trial, before Judge Emily Telfer and a jury, continues.