Man found guilty of killing 12-year-old boy

A man has been found guilty of killing a 12-year-old boy by setting his wooden den on fire in Dublin while he was asleep inside.

Man found guilty of killing 12-year-old boy

A man has been found guilty of killing a 12-year-old boy by setting his wooden den on fire in Dublin while he was asleep inside.

Stephen Hughes died after his makeshift hut at Rossfield Avenue, Tallaght burnt down in the early hours of September 1 2001.

Stephen Hughes body was found at the back of a makeshift hut that he had built with his friends and other children from the Rossfield area of Tallaght.

Dermot Griffin of Ballyfermot Road went on trial for his manslaughter after he was charged with setting the den on fire.

One witness claimed she saw him throw something into the hut before it went up in flames and his partner testified that he left their home that night with the intention of burning it down.

The trial also heard from Stephen's friend Daryl Hall who was also in the hut that night.

He outlined how he managed to escape from the blaze and described how Mr Griffin looked worried when he realised his friend was still inside.

It took the jurors over six hours to reach a majority verdict and their decision was met by large cheers from the public gallery.

Dermot Griffin has been remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced next month.

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