Neighbour arrested over remote control bombing of trainer John Burrows

THE mother of a man killed by an improvised explosive device at her garage said today she was “over the moon” after police arrested and charged a neighbour over the fatal bombing.

Paul John Fitzpatrick, the neighbour of Mr Burrows, has been arrested in relation to his death. Picture: Jonathan Ng

THE mother of a man killed by an improvised explosive device at her garage said she was “over the moon” after police arrested and charged a neighbour over the fatal bombing.

John Burrows was killed after an improvised explosive device exploded outside his mother's garage in Portland, near Lithgow.

As police charged Paul John Fitzpatrick, 70 with murder, after arresting him at his Portland home about 9.30amon Wednesday, the victim’s mother Phyllis said: “I could jump over the moon. The police have worked their arse off. I cannot fault one of them.”

Mr Burrows, 58, was killed in the explosion as he approached the rear garage of his mother’s property in a laneway behind Villiers St, Portland, about 6.30am on Friday, July 24, 2015.

Police located the remains of an IED which had been placed outside the garage and remotely detonated.

Mr Fitzpatrick was arrested about 9.30am this morning. Picture: NSW Police Media

Mr Burrows was about to get his car out of the garage when the device — hidden in a cardboard box with packaging for a weed sprayer — went off about 6.30am.

The blast was so powerful it shattered windows 20m away. Black soot still stains rooftops along the narrow lane where Mr Burrows died.

Bomb fragments found following the explosion.

Cardboard box and metal box

recovered at the site. Picture: NSW Police.

Mrs Burrows said it had been unnerving living so close to the man arrested over her son’s death.

Police believe the two men had been engaged in a lengthy dispute after two of Mr Burrows’ greyhounds had to be put down after being badly injured. Mr Fitzpatrick was never charged over the incident.

In July the Daily Telegraph attempted to interview Mr Fitzpatrick over the death.

“I’m not interested, please leave the property,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.

Chifley Police Crime Manager Luke Rankin said the Burrows family had been staunch throughout the long investigation which took investigators interstate and overseas. He confirmed Mr Fitzpatrick would be charged with murder.

“I give credit to the family, they have been completely co-operative. They put faith in us to do our duty,” he said.

He said police had had “several interactions” with Mr Fitzpatrick starting on the day of Mr Burrow’s alleged murder death but would not confirm when he was last spoken to about his alleged role in the death.

Mr Fitzpatrick appeared at Lithgow Local Court on Thursday and will reappear on Friday after failing to apply for bail..