The court heard Mr Berber’s fingerprint was allegedly found on a cash register from the council that was dumped in nearby bushland, Nine News reported.

His lawyer told reporters his client would not be pleading guilty.

NSW Police Detective Chief Inspector Richard Puffett said they were exploring possible motives but investigations were still ongoing.

He said the arrest on Wednesday was the result of a decade-long investigation. The breakthrough was made possible by new enhanced examination techniques.

“The disruption to the local government has been immense, as you can imagine the number of resources, documents, ratepayers’ details, all destroyed in a matter of hours,” Chief Inspector Puffett said.

“The fact that we’ve pursued this for 10 years reflects our commitment to solving it. That’s why we don’t give up. It points clearly to the fact [the arson unit] doesn’t forget and doesn’t give up.”

Detectives have released a COMFIT – computer-aged – image of another man seen in the area at the time of the fire who may be able to assist as investigations continue.

Police are appealing for anyone with information that may assist to come forward and believe up to seven people were involved in the incident.

“We have extremely good information in terms of who they may be. We would ask for those individuals to come forward before we knock on the door,” Chief Inspector Puffett said.

An All-Ireland winning GAA player has been charged in relation to an attempted ATM theft near the border.

Daniel O’Callaghan, with an address at Monog Road, Crossmaglen, Co. Armagh appeared before Virginia District Court in Cavan on Friday morning.

The 30 year-old has previously won three club All Ireland medals and played with the famous Crossmaglen Rangers club in Armagh.

He was charged in relation to the attempted theft of an ATM machine in Virginia, Co. Cavan in August 2019.

Wearing a dark navy top and dark jogging bottoms, O’Callaghan covered his face with a white sheet of paper as he arrived at the courthouse.

He was arrested on January 6th in Castleblayney by Monaghan Gardai and members of the Special Detective Unit.

He was charged with the attempted theft of the ATM bank machine on Main Street Virginia on August 14th last year, and being in possession of a stolen CASE digger on Main Street Virginia on the same date.

He was also charged with entering the Lake House, Virginia as a trespasser on an unknown date between August 14th and 17th last year, with the intent to commit an offence or interfere with the building.

Gardaí told Judge Denis McLaughlin that when the charges were put to him just before midnight last night, he made no reply.

No application for bail was made and he was remanded to Harristown Prison for one week.