Glenn Martin Cairns, 47, seeks bail in Toowoomba Magistrates Court charges of arson, acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm

A disabled man and his NDIS worker were forced to flee a Toowoomba home after a man allegedly set it alight, a court was told when the accused arsonist applied for bail.

Rockville man Glenn Martin Cairns was charged with arson. Police allege he deliberately set fire to a home on Vanity Street, Rockville, about 2pm on March 8, 2024.

A man who allegedly set fire to a Rockville home while a disabled man and his carer were inside has denied any intent of harming the pair.

Glenn Martin Cairns, through his solicitor Brad Skuse, sought bail before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday for multiple charges after Mr Cairns allegedly set fire to a Rockville home while two people were inside in March last year.

The court was told Mr Cairns’ disabled family member and a visiting disability support carer were in the home when the carer purported to notice Mr Cairns pouring petrol around the property.

“(Police allege) she had taken some steps to leave the premises as my client was acting erratically at the time,” Mr Skuse said.

“(Allegedly) she felt some liquid strike her on the back, just above her ankle … she could smell petrol and turned around to observe my client was walking backwards pouring petrol within the building.”

A 49-year-old man was charged with arson. Police allege he deliberately set fire to a home on Vanity Street, Rockville, about 2pm on March 8, 2024.

The court was told the carer then quickly grabbed the disabled man and left the home before smoke and flames were seen; neither person was injured in the ensuing fire.

While the home did sustain some damage from the fire, Mr Skuse advised the dwelling was fit for residence and suggested it as a suitable bail address.

He advised the court Mr Cairns suffered from multiple complex mental illnesses and was medicated at the time of the offence, but had recently increased his dosage.

Prosecution documents alleged Mr Cairns struggled with illicit substance misuse; however, Mr Skuse countered there was nothing to support the notion he was under the influence during the alleged arson.

“My client instructs some (illicit drug) use prior but there’s no evidence to suggest he was affected or had used relevant to the events,” Mr Skuse said.

He conceded a relatively strong Crown case but indicated Mr Cairns would contest two charges of acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm if they were to go ahead.

Acting magistrate David Shepherd queried Mr Skuse on Mr Cairns’ ability to comply with bail orders, despite Mr Skuse offering conditions to follow a mental health regime and submit to illicit substance testing.

Police allege Mr Cairns deliberately set fire to a home on Vanity Street, Rockville, about 2pm on March 8, 2024.

“The evidence would suggest at the time, he was acting under some sort of delusion which either suggests the medication wasn’t having the desired effect or was being interfered with,” Mr Shepherd said.

“The material would suggest, on this occasion, he was a danger to others but also himself.

“There is some concern, on what you tell me, that mitigation of those risks is somewhat problematic in these circumstances, given his ongoing mental health problems.”

Mr Cairns is charged with arson (domestic violence) and two counts of acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm among other charges.

He was denied bail and remanded in custody awaiting his next court date on January 29, 2025.

Originally published as Glenn Martin Cairns, 47, seeks bail in Toowoomba Magistrates Court charges of arson, acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm