Albion Hotel fire: Builder jailed over blaze at Dane Swan’s pub
A BUILDER who destroyed a pub part-owned by Collingwood champion Dane Swan because he needed more time to finish the renovations could be free in a little over two years.
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A BUILDER who destroyed a pub part-owned by Collingwood champion Dane Swan because he needed more time to finish the renovations could be free in a little over two years.
Andrew McMahon, 48, torched the Albion Hotel in South Melbourne a little over a week before he was scheduled to complete extensive renovations to the iconic building.
He was today sentenced to five years in jail with a non-parole period of two years and six months.
McMahon told police he snuck into the pub and lit the fire as his October 15, 2015 deadline approached.
The York St hotel was destroyed in the fire on October 5.
“I was in a panic, I just needed a couple of weeks for the build. I’m truly sorry,” he told police.
At an earlier hearing, the Melbourne Magistrates Court heard damage to the hotel and its neighbouring building was estimated at more than $5.1 million.
Detective Sen-Constable Adam Burnett alleged the father of two climbed into the hotel at 5.55am by using a scissor lift to enter the beer garden.
Once inside, he set fire to timber, starting a roaring fire which spread next door.
McMahon pleaded guilty to one charge of arson and is likely to be deported back to his homeland in Scotland once released.
