Geraldine Wrigley: Vaucluse retiree allegedly lit Lighthouse Reserve fire
A retiree from Sydney’s affluent eastern suburbs spent a night in the cells after allegedly lighting a reserve fire in the midst of the worst bushfire season in decades. She told a court she just wanted to destroy some important papers.
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A retiree who allegedly started a dangerous fire in a public reserve in Sydney’s affluent eastern suburbs has been released from custody after spending a night in prison.
Geraldine Zara Wrigley, 64, allegedly started a fire at Lighthouse Reserve in Vaucluse during the early hours of Tuesday not far from her own home.
Her defence told a court it was a “lapse in judgment” and she simply wanted to “burn some important papers and rubbish”.
However, a magistrate labelled the incident a serious offence, particularly considering what the state had gone through with the ongoing bushfire crisis.
Emergency services were called to the reserve about 2.30am on Tuesday after a witness drove by and spotted the fire in shrubs.
Firefighters arrived soon after and put out the blaze which police said was roughly 65 sqm and damaged shrubs and small trees.
Police arrested Ms Wrigley at the scene and she was charged with intentionally cause fire and be reckless as to its spread.
When police asked her why she had started the fire, she allegedly said she was trying to burn some papers when the wind picked up and caused the fire to spread.
“The accused stated that she believed that it was legal to burn her rubbish at the reserve,” the police facts claimed.
She appeared at Waverley Local Court later the same day where she pleaded guilty and applied for bail.
Magistrate Allison Hawkins adjourned the matter for one day and refused her bail at which point Ms Wrigley pleaded “I’ll pay thousands of dollars just don’t send me to prison”.
She appeared again on Wednesday after spending a night behind bars.
Her new defence lawyer asked for the earlier plea of guilty to be traversed as she argued Ms Wrigley had not received appropriate advice on the first occasion and the charge could be downgraded in the future.
Magistrate Hawkins granted the request for her to withdraw the guilty plea and considered a second bail application for Ms Wrigley.
Her bail was granted under the condition she remain living at her address in Vaucluse and did not light any fires or be in possession of matches. She has no criminal history.
When asked in court if she suffered from a mental illness, one of her defence lawyers said if she did it was only of the “very tiniest” nature.
Police allege that Ms Wrigley left the fire after it began to spread but returned with a bucket from her house.
Police allege a witness confronted her and followed her to her house, before the pair returned to the reserve.
Her matter has been adjourned until March 18.