Man guilty of unlawful killing of a man in house fire

By Sonya McLean and  Claire Henry

A man has been found guilty by a jury of the unlawful killing of a kitchen porter who died after the home he was living in was set on fire.

Dean Boland (34) had pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the unlawful killing of Ohari Viera, damaging property by arson and burglary and theft at Oaklands Terrace, Terenure, Dublin, on August 21, 2018.

The prosecution alleged that Boland, of Northwood, Santry, broke into the house where Mr Viera was living, stole a rucksack and set fire to the property.

Mr Viera re-entered the property before the arrival of emergency services and later died of cardiac arrest in the hospital.

Judge Elma Sheahan thanked the jury for its service. It took them six hours and one minute to reach their verdict on day eight of the trial.

Gareth Baker, SC, defending, requested a probation report and a psychological report be carried out on Boland.

Judge Sheahan agreed and set a sentencing date of March 10, 2023.