A Donegal man who allegedly poured petrol on his girlfriend and set her alight in Belgium is “cooperating well” with cops, his lawyer has claimed.
The 33-year-old, who is originally from Inishowen, was arrested last Wednesday evening.
The woman’s grandmother called emergency services after seeing her flee from the couple’s mobile home and jump in a paddling pool.
His 37-year-old Belgian partner remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital with burns to 80% of her body.
The man was remanded in custody by an investigating magistrate in Antwerp on Friday and is due before another magistrate this afternoon. At that point, a decision will be taken to remand him further or release him on bail.
His lawyer said he is being held on suspicion of attempted manslaughter rather than attempted murder.
He said of his client: “He has made extensive statements and is cooperating well with the investigation.
“He is very concerned with the condition of the victim and thinks it is terrible what happened.”
Neighbours told Belgian media that the couple, who have been together for two and a half years, had lived in the mobile home since last October.
They described the Irishman as “rather private” and said he kept to himself.
Locals said the victim’s grandmother, who is 86 years old, was distressed by what she witnessed.
One of them said: “Seeing your own grandchild set on fire, it must be terrible.”
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