Couple grew to become grandparents the day they died in home fireplace, inquest hears

A pair acquired a cellphone name from their son who advised them that they had develop into grandparents solely to be discovered useless hours later when their interval dwelling caught fireplace, an inquest in Cork has heard.

Cork Metropolis Deputy Coroner Dr Mary McCaffrey has issued a normal warning about fireplace security throughout the inquest into the deaths of John and Gabrielle O’Donnell.

The couple had been discovered useless of their terraced home on Decrease Glanmire Street in Cork on April 4 this yr.

John died of pure causes whereas Gabrielle’s dying was immediately linked to the hearth that destroyed their property.

The couple had fireplace detectors on every of the three flooring of their dwelling and the property additionally contained carbon monoxide detectors.

The investigation revealed that the home had been fully destroyed and consultants couldn’t decide the situation of the hearth. John was 83 whereas Gabrielle was 75.

Dr McCaffrey mentioned the variety of fireplace deaths and accidents is twice as excessive within the 65 to 75 age group, whereas that quantity triples at 75 and quadruples at 85.

She mentioned we must always all the time search for methods to scale back the variety of fireplace deaths among the many normal inhabitants and likewise among the many aged.

Smoke detectors

Dr McCaffrey mentioned the subsidy scheme for smoke alarms must be checked out along with using panic alarms amongst older folks.

She added that older folks face further dangers from beginning a fireplace, similar to standing unsteadiness and listening to deterioration. Diminished listening to could make it harder to listen to smoke detectors.

Dr McCaffrey referred to as on folks to purchase new smoke alarms for his or her aged mother and father this Christmas as an alternative of the “foolish” objects we often purchase right now of yr.

She provided her condolences to the household of the deceased following the tragic dying of a contented couple. She advised the couple’s son, Mark, that his mother and father had a “very completely happy night time” earlier than dying after being knowledgeable of the start of their little one.

In the meantime, the inquest at Cork Coroner’s Court docket heard proof from Colin Hackett, who was a customer to the O’Donnell dwelling in Decrease Glanmire Street on April 4 final yr. He mentioned he referred to as round 7 and seven:30 p.m. and stayed till about 9 p.m. He seen that a number of candles had been lit on the desk.

Brendan Sexton, a brother of Gabrielle, referred to as the couple round 9:30 p.m. that day. He mentioned the coal fireplace in the lounge was going out as he was leaving round 10:20 p.m. He was having a drink in a close-by pub shortly afterwards when he was knowledgeable there was a fireplace at a home in Decrease Glanmire Street.

Mr Sexton returned to the O’Donnell home which was “on fireplace”. He mentioned the property had trendy forged iron gasoline heating. He mentioned that as he left the O’Donnells that night, John seen the coal fireplace had gone out. Nonetheless, John advised Mr. Sexton that the outdated gasoline fireplace was beginning.

“He mentioned that at one level, whereas he was at dwelling, Gabrielle answered the cellphone to a relative who was congratulating the couple on the start of their grandchild. Mr Sexton mentioned the couple had been “moderately completely happy and joyful.”

Security acutely aware

Mark O’Donnell, a son of the deceased, mentioned that though his mom liked candles, she had gotten into the behavior of changing them with battery-operated variations.

He advised the coroner his mother and father had been each involved about their security and had smoke detectors on each ground. In addition they had carbon monoxide detectors.

He mentioned he was at his mother and father’ home that day as a result of he and his spouse had a brand new child. Mark had referred to as his mother and father from his dwelling in Qatar to inform them that his spouse Grace had given start to a child woman.

Each the coroner and Sgt Fergus Twomey praised motorist Alan Lyne, who noticed the hearth as he drove previous in his automotive and raised the alarm.

He managed to evacuate neighboring properties and his dashcam footage was very useful to the investigation. Mr Lyne mentioned the depth of the hearth was such that at no time was it attainable to entry the home the place the couple had been staying.

Seven fireplace models attended the scene shortly after 11 p.m. on April 4. Cork Metropolis Fireplace Brigade Second Officer Victor Shine mentioned the couple had been discovered useless in the lounge.

Sgt Owen O’Connell mentioned the property was engulfed in flames. The road needed to be closed off and diversions put in place. He mentioned CCTV footage indicated a window on the property was blown out shortly after the hearth began.

Crime scene investigator Garda Orla Punch mentioned the harm attributable to the hearth was very intensive. Gardaí had been unable to find out the reason for the hearth.

Deputy State Pathologist Dr. Margaret Bolster performed the autopsies on the couple. She mentioned Gabrielle died of acute carbon monoxide poisoning because of smoke inhalation.

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His post-mortem on John O’Donnell indicated that he died out of the blue of a cardiac episode earlier than the hearth was extinguished.

A verdict of pure causes was recorded in respect of Mr O’Donnell’s dying whereas Mrs O’Donnell’s dying was recorded as a case of unintended dying.

Mr. and Mrs. O’Donnell are survived by their son Mark and John’s sons Damien and John.

They’re additionally fondly remembered by their prolonged household, which incorporates John’s sister Anne, Gabrielle’s brother Brendan, daughter-in-law Grace, granddaughter Hannah, John’s grandchildren Brona, Eoin and Cormac, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, mother and father. , neighbors and associates.