Boy told to stay quiet

A Dublin man accused of killing a 12-year old boy in a fire told his neighbour not to tell gardaí he was there, a court has heard.

Stephen Hughes died in a blaze at a makeshift den where he had been sleeping with a friend.

Dermot Griffin, aged 54, of Ballyfermot Rd, Ballyfermot, pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to manslaughter at Rossfield Avenue, Tallaght, on September 1, 2001.