Shannon Margaret Houlihan denied bail over allegations she caused $3m fire damage to Wonnerup’s Tuart Drive bridge

The damage bill to a bridge south of Bunbury that was “completely destroyed” after allegedly being deliberately set on fire has been estimated at $3 million. Shannon Margaret Houlihan appeared in Bunbury Magistrates Court via video link from Melaleuca prison earlier this week to face one count of criminal damage by fire related to the March 25 blaze at Wonnerup’s Tuart Drive bridge . Police allege the 20-year-old and a co-offender — who was allegedly driving — parked a Subaru vehicle under the bridge and deliberately started a fire which completely destroyed both the car and bridge. Police prosecutor Sergeant Darren Clifton said the accused then contacted an associate to be picked up, allegedly leaving the scene while the fire was burning. “The accused, co-offender and associate returned to an address in Geographe,” he said. “The accused changed clothes, went to the beach and placed a bag containing clothing into a hole and set it on fire.” He said the damage to the bridge — owned by the City of Busselton –— was estimated to be $3 million and it was anticipated to take 18 months to repair. Ms Houlihan also faced one count of gaining benefit by fraud and possessing a prohibited drug and two counts of possessing drug paraphernalia. Magistrate Linda Keane said while there was no doubt the alleged arson was “very serious offending,” she needed to know how police connected Ms Houlihan to it. Sgt Clifton said telephone records were “at play” and a link was determined through the arrest of the co-offender. He said the fraud charge she faced related to an insurance claim on the vehicle involved. Appearing as duty lawyer, Fiona Walsh said from her perspective, Ms Houlihan was a “bycatch” in the whole thing and that the accused “had no idea” what her co-accused had been planning. Magistrate Keane said she was not willing to grant bail at this stage, adjourning the case until tomorrow to give the prosecution time to put together more information.