A MAN has appeared in court in connection with the fire which ravaged the former Forum Shopping Centre in Irvine.
Kevin McElholm made no plea to a single charge of culpable and reckless fire-raising at a private hearing held in Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Tuesday, February 10.
The 41-year-old, from the town, has now been committed for further examination and granted bail.
He is set to return to the dock at a later date yet to be confirmed.
McElholm's appearance in court comes after North Ayrshire's top cop, Chief Inspector Judith Macgregor, confirmed that an arrest had been made in relation to the Forum Centre blaze.
More: Six weeks of demolition work begins at fire-damaged former Forum centre
It came almost exactly one week after the fire, which was described as "wilful", first took hold late in the evening of Monday, February 2.
The flames burned into the early hours of the following morning causing widespread disruption to neighbouring businesses in the Rivergate Shopping Centre and Bridgegate.
The damage caused to the property, which also contains the Irvine Celtic Supporters' Club, was deemed so severe that North Ayrshire Council has since taken action.
Demolition work is now underway, with works expected to take around six weeks to complete.
Although the affected buildings are in private ownership, the council is leading the recovery effort.
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