Inquiry into boy’s death gets fresh impetus with mother’s plea

A YEAR-LONG investigation received a fresh impetus yesterday when a mother appealed for help in finding a man who was seen running from her 12-year-old son’s play den moments before it caught fire, killing the youngster.

Elizabeth Connors yesterday made an anguished appeal to the public to help gardaí trace the man who was filmed near Stephen’s den one year ago tomorrow. His friend Darren Hall succeeded in escaping but was unable to pull Stephen out.

“Stephen won’t rest in peace until this is all ended,” the boy’s mother said.