Man accused of attempting to murder 11 of his relatives

A MAN has been accused of attempting to murder 11 people by setting fire to a house they were sleeping in.

Kieran Ridley is alleged to have locked relatives in the remote holiday house in the west Highlands.

The 31-year-old – who is pleading not guilty – is accused of attempting to murder his mother, brother and other relatives.

He is said to have wilfully set fire to a refuse bin in the kitchen of the isolated white-washed house near the ferry and fishing port of Mallaig on October 27 last year.

He is then charged with pouring petrol, “or similar accelerant” on to the kitchen surfaces, setting it alight, followed by opening the gas taps on the kitchen cooker and allowing the fire to take effect and spread throughout the dwelling.

The indictment further alleges Ridley then locked the external doors and windows and left the scene, taking the keys with him, “thereby preventing or hindering escape from the property”.

The indictment goes on to say this was “all in the knowledge a number of persons were asleep, all to the danger of their lives, and you did attempt to murder them”.

When Ridley first appeared at nearby Fort William Sheriff Court in private with local defence lawyer Hamish Melrose a few days after the alleged attack, he made no plea and was remanded in custody.

An address in Worcester was given at the time.

The house is on the shore of Loch Nevis sea-loch, overlooking the Knoydart peninsula, a few miles from the holiday home of showbiz multi-millionaire Sir Cameron Mackintosh, which was mysteriously destroyed by fire 16 years ago.

There is no suggestion that the incidents are in any way linked.

In the latest incident, firefighters had to enlist coastguards to take them to the scene of the fire in a 4×4 vehicle, as the half-mile rutted track, with a 300-foot drop into the sea on one side, was too narrow for fire engines or ambulances.

It is understood the 11 individuals escaped unhurt with only one woman needing treatment for smoke inhalation.

A Crown Office spokesman said Ridley had entered a not guilty plea to the charges.

His case is due to be heard at the High Court in Glasgow with a trial date set for September.

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