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<\/p>\nTerminally ill Home And Away actor Joel McIlroy has reportedly been charged with damaging property.<\/p>\n
The 50-year-old – who has been diagnosed with rare, inherited brain disease Huntington's – has been accused of intentionally or recklessly destroying property in a suburb of Sydney, Australia in July, reported The Australian.<\/p>\n
It is alleged that the actor \u2013 who is best known to TV viewers as Summer Bay\u2019s Flynn Saunders \u2013 damaged a passenger window and frame.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Home and Away Tegan star's life \u2013 A-list fling rumours to child of 'Oz's richest couple'<\/b><\/p>\n
If he were to be convicted, Joel could face up to five years in jail.<\/p>\n
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However, the star's lawyer has said there will be application for the charges to be dealt with under the Mental Health Act.<\/p>\n
This would mean that the TV star would be able to avoid time in prison.<\/p>\n
The NHS says that Huntington\u2019s \u201cis a condition that stops parts of the brain working properly over time\u201d.<\/p>\n
It is inherited from a person's parents and symptoms can include difficulty moving, depression, difficulty concentrating and memory lapses.<\/p>\n
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The NHS website says it \u201cgets gradually worse over time and is usually fatal after a period of up to 20 years\u201d.<\/p>\n
Joel is best known for playing Flynn in the Aussie soap from 2003 to 2006.<\/p>\n
He was actually in the programme almost 10 years earlier in a small extra role, then returned to take over the part of Flynn from actor Martin Dingle-Wall.<\/p>\n
The character was married to Home And Away favourite Sally (played by Kate Ritchie), but ended up passing away after a cancer battle.<\/p>\n
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Joel\u2019s other TV credits include the shows Heartbreak High, All Saints and Love Is A Four Letter Word.<\/p>\n
He has also appeared on the big screen, with a role in 2000 comedy Angst.<\/p>\n
The application for the charges to be dealt with under the Mental Health Act is due to be heard in September.<\/p>\n
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