Dad-to-be Martin ‘the Viper’ Foley has been hailed a hero after saving the life of a man who was trapped inside a house that had been deliberately set on fire.

The 63-year-old has been praised for showing no fear in entering the house on Cashel Avenue in Crumlin, Dublin, last Sunday night despite a massive fire blazing inside.

He pulled a man who was trapped inside to safety and then threw several gas canisters, which were in danger of exploding, out the window.

The pensioner, who had been in the house when it was set on fire by a petrol bomb, was treated for shock and smoke inhalation by paramedics at the scene and will make a full recovery.

However, the fire caused considerable damage to three adjoining houses leaving them unfit for living in.

Gardai are investigating the incident but believe that two local men, who have been attempting to extort money from innocent residents, may have been responsible for the arson attack, which is being treated as attempted murder.

A source in the Fire Brigade said: “Martin Foley is a hero, no question. He didn’t hesitate to enter the burning building and help the elderly resident out. Not only that but by getting rid of the gas canisters he avoided a potentially lethal explosion breaking out.

“When he saved the man he waited around and spoke to us about what he had seen and the layout of the house and was very cooperative and helpful.”

The Sunday World recently revealed that despite not being too far away from collecting his state pension and being hit by an incredible 18 bullets in four murder bids, Foley impregnated his wife.

Foley turns 64 in November and his 38 year-old beau Sonia Doyle is understood to be over four months pregnant.

The colourful criminal has been joking with pals that his body will be donated to medical science when he finally kicks the bucket because he has confounded doctors’ expectations for so many years.

Foley and Sonia Doyle got married last November after a ten-year relationship. The intimate ceremony in Puerto Rico in the Canary Islands was only attended by a handful of people.

The pair of lovebirds have wasted no time in having a family. Foley already has two daughters who are in their late 20s from his first marriage to his deceased wife Pauline who passed away in January 2003.

Foley has told friends he cannot wait for the early morning feeds and dirty nappies and says he has a new perspective on the value of life because he has stared death in the face on so many occasions. The new arrival is some much-needed good news for Foley who was handed a bill for €916,960 by the Criminal Assets Bureau last month.

Two years ago the CAB launched an investigation into the criminal because of the actions of his notorious debt collection business.

Sonia Doyle is a director of ‘Viper Debt Recovery and Repossession Services Limited’ which is highly successful despite the claims of the company books.

Garda management were concerned that Foley was touring the country intimidating people into paying debts so CAB officials used the garda PULSE machine to track Foley’s business movements and used it to prove his company’s income was not declared correctly.

The Viper pockets 20 per cent of every debt he collects and also charges several thousand euro to take a case on in the first place.

He has become so busy over the last few years that he now employs around eight people full time.

Last year the accounts for the debt collection company revealed that it made a profit of just €833. The previous year the company lost €7,518. The accounts detailed revenues of just €20,290 up until September 2012.

However auditors said they could not independently verify these revenues because there was no cash book for the business.

The €916,960 declaration is for under declaration of income tax. The County Sheriff has the power to seize valuables from Foley including his home.

The Viper has 45 criminal convictions and is regarded by gardai as being involved in drug dealing and other serious criminal activities.