Prisoner re-arrested over boy’s death

Gardaí hope to bring charges against a man in relation to a fire that killed a 12-year-old boy in 2001.

Stephen Hughes Connors was killed when a makeshift hut he and another friend were sleeping in was set ablaze in Tallaght, west Dublin on Sept 1, 2001.

A 52-year-old man was re-arrested yesterday.

He had previously been arrested in 2006. However, the DPP directed against charges being brought.

Gardaí said they were able to arrest the man a second time after “new evidence” emerged following an appeal for information on the 10th anniversary of the boy’s death last September and subsequent Garda inquiries.

The suspect was arrested at Mountjoy Prison, where he is serving time for drug offences. The man was arrested under section four of the Criminal Justice Act. Garda sources last night indicated they were optimistic of charges being brought.

Stephen and his 14-year-old friend were sleeping in the hut on Rossfield Avenue when it was set ablaze.

Pictures from a CCTV camera showed a man approaching the hut and leaving. The man returned and then left again. The hut burst into flames and Stephen was caught inside.

Meanwhile, gardaí investigating the murder of a major drugs boss yesterday arrested a sibling of two brothers who head a notorious Real IRA faction in Dublin.

The 21-year-old man was one of two men arrested by detectives investigating the fatal shooting of Michael “The Panda” Kelly. The 30 year old was gunned down after he left his girlfriend’s apartment in Clongriffin, Dublin, on Sept 15.

A man has also been arrested in connection with the murder of Ciaran Noonan, 29. His body was discovered in a ditch in Co Meath in November.

Gardaí said a man in his 20s was being detained at Store Street Garda station.

This is the 12th arrest in connection with the killing.

Mark Allen, aged 33, from Johnstown, Co Kildare, has been charged with falsely imprisoning Mr Noonan.