Courts / Dublin / Report
Arsonist who had manslaughter conviction quashed is re-sentenced to six years
Summary
An arsonist who had his manslaughter conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal has been re-sentenced to six years in prison. Dean Boland (37) was originally jailed for eight years in March 2023 after being convicted of the unlawful killing of Ohari Viera in August 2018. Boland had broken into a Dublin residential property, stole a rucksack, and set fire to the building. Mr Viera, who was living upstairs with two others, managed to evacuate safely, but he later returned to the property for an unknown reason and did not return. The fire engulfed the building, and Mr Viera died from cardiac arrest due to smoke inhalation. The Court of Appeal quashed Boland's manslaughter conviction, stating that Mr Viera's return to the fire broke the chain of causation. The case was returned for sentencing on the counts of arson and burglary. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a six-year sentence on Boland for arson, backdating it to December 2022. She noted Boland's 32 previous convictions and the serious nature of the offence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Arsonist who had manslaughter conviction quashed is re-sentenced to six years. Charges or matters: the unlawful killing of Ohari Viera in August, 2018; the unlawful killing of Mr Viera, damaging property by arson and burglary at Oaklands Terrace, Terenure, on August 21, 2018 by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- March 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 21, 2018 Incident
- December 16, 2022 Incident
- 2025-12-05 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: the unlawful killing of Ohari Viera in August, 2018; the unlawful killing of Mr Viera, damaging property by arson and burglary at Oaklands Terrace, Terenure, on August 21, 2018 by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury (Proven)
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Dean Boland (37) was jailed for eight years in March 2023 after he was convicted of the unlawful killing of Ohari Viera in August, 2018. Today, Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a six-year sentence on Boland on the count of arson.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Oaklands Terrace
- St James' Hospital
Topics
Burglary Stage Appeal Violent Crime
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