Homeless man killed after hostel explosion
Gardaí probe theory a gas heater fatally malfunctioned
A MAN has died following an explosion at a hostel for the homeless in Dublin city.
The blast happened at the emergency accommodation site on Little Britain Street on the northside of the city shortly after 3pm yesterday.
Emergency services rushed to the scene but the man was pronounced dead a short time later. It is thought he had been using the services of the hostel, run by charity DePaul, for the last few weeks. Residents at the centre, which is located close to Capel Street, reported hearing a loud bang followed by the fire alarm.
Large plumes of smoke could be seen billowing from the building in the aftermath of the explosion.
While investigations are at a very early stage, one line of inquiry for gardaí and forensics teams is that a gas heater malfunctioned and exploded. The blast was so severe that large chunks of shrapnel were embedded in the walls of the room where the man was staying, sources told the Irish Daily Mail.
One source said last night: ‘Forensics are only on the scene since this evening so we can’t say definitely how it happened, but unfortunately you have a man dead there tonight who was staying in a homeless hostel trying to keep himself warm.
‘It’s an awful tragedy. But what I can say is that the explosion was strong enough to kill a person obviously, but there’s big chunks of metal embedded in the walls.
‘That will tell you just how strong it was.’
One resident of the centre, who gave his name as Anthony, said he was having a cigarette outside at the time of the explosion.
He told the Mail: ‘There was this pop and then the fire alarm started and everybody was sprinting out of the place. I hadn’t a clue what was going on but I knew by them all that it was serious. There were lads legging it. I thought someone had been shot but then there was all this smoke a bit later and we started hearing there was an explosion or something.’
He added: ‘I wouldn’t know the lad to be straight with you. You know there’s loads of people coming and going all the time.
‘There’s all these rumours going around now at the minute as well about what started it.
‘I’m telling you now, though, it’s bad to say and all as there’s a fella dead, but I’m telling you now it’s a miracle there weren’t more people injured or dead.’
In a joint statement from Dublin Fire Brigade and the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE), a spokesperson said both the ESB and Gas Networks Ireland came in to assist gardaí.
The Army bomb squad was also brought in last night.
The spokesperson said: ‘At 3.15pm... Dublin Fire Brigade received an emergency call reporting a serious incident at a premises on Little Britain Street. Firefighter/advanced paramedics from Phibsborough, Tara Street and North Strand fire stations responded and the incident was under control by 3.35pm.
‘In total five fire engines were mobilised to the scene along with a district officer. The assistance of ESB Networks, Gas Networks Ireland and An Garda Síochána was requested and the scene was handed over to gardaí at 4.15pm.’
They added: ‘All residents are being evacuated on a temporary basis to allow for a full assessment. Our priority is to safely reaccommodate all residents tonight. Our sincere thanks to our NGO partners, An Garda Síochana and Dublin Fire Brigade who are assisting on the ground.’
A spokesperson for DePaul, which runs the hostel, added: ‘It was a localised incident confined to one room.
‘All service users will be evacuated from the building tonight and alternative placements will be found. Depaul are working with the DRHE and our NGO partners to ensure no person will be left without accommodation.’
Gardaí said they will investigate the causes of the blast but added that this may take some time.
A statement read: ‘Gardaí and the Dublin Fire Brigade responded to an incident at a residential premises on Little Britain Street, Dublin 7, shortly after 3.30pm on Thursday, January 18, 2024, following reports of an explosion inside the property.
‘Chunks of metal embedded in walls’ ‘Residents have been evacuated’
‘One adult male sustained fatal injuries, and there are no reports of any other injuries.
‘Residents at the premises have been evacuated, and a cordon, along with local traffic diversions, are currently in place. The precise cause of the explosion is currently under investigation, and the Garda Technical Bureau will examine the scene.’