Friend of boy who died in fire was 'hysterical' when help arrived
A court has heard that the friend of a boy who died when his makeshift den burned down in Dublin was hysterical when people arrived at the scene.
Dermot Griffin of Ballyfermot Road denies killing 12-year-old Stephen Hughes by setting the hut on fire at Rossfield Avenue, Tallaght in September 2001.
Fire fighter James O'Brien told the court today that it took around 15 minutes to put out the fire that cost Stephen Hughes his life.
The 12-year-old's body was found at the back of the hut, which was made from pallets and old doors and located between two buildings at Rossfield Avenue.
Philip Morris lived nearby at the time and said he was awoken by screaming at around 5am.
When he raced down to where the makeshift den was burning, he found Stephen's friend Darren Hall screaming: "Steve is in there!"
He said he was hysterical and obviously in shock.
It is the prosecution's case that the fire was started by Dermot Griffin and that he killed the young boy as a result of this dangerous and criminal act.
The 54-year-old denies the charge.
