Grace died in fire at a pal’s home after losing key to her hotel room
A UNIVERSITY lecturer died from carbon monoxide poisoning during a house fire, an inquest has heard.
Grace Mcdermott had travelled from her home in Dublin to take part in the Great Limerick Run on April 30, 2016.
The court was told yesterday how, having lost her hotel room keycard, she stayed at a friend’s house after unexpectedly bumping into him while out socialising after the race.
Limerick Coroner John Mcnamara heard the fire in Annacotty was likely to have been caused by a lamp falling on to a couch in the bedroom where the 26-year-old was sleeping.
Sergeant Dave Bourke said the “initial focus” of the Garda investigation into the fire centred around a laptop charger discovered in the room following the fire.
This was later discounted as a cause and the investigation switched focus, but he added: “We found no evidence of a lamp.”
It was accepted by all parties the lamp could have been destroyed in the fire, or “torn” off by the force of water used by firefighters to douse the flames.
Forensic scientist Paul Collins carried out a flammable field test on the partially destroyed couch.
He agreed under questioning from solicitor Cian O’carroll, representing the Mcdermott family, that if the sofa had been compliant with the highest fire safety standards the tragedy may not have happened.
Mr Mcnamara said the only verdict he could return was “accidental death”.
He added a number of events led to the Dublin City University lecturer staying at her friend’s house after she had become separated from another pal she planned to stay with in the hotel.
The coroner said: “A series of events transpired which unfortunately led to Grace being in the house where a lamp had fallen over and, it would appear, was the catalyst for the fire.”
The inquest heard the room was fitted with a fire door.
Mr Mcnamara said he intended to contact the Department of the Environment, recommending smoke detectors be fitted in every bedroom of every new home in the future as a mandatory safety measure.
He added: “I don’t know how practical it is... but I don’t think it would be a
House in Annacotty, Co Limerick, after fatal blaze high price to pay to save some lives. Fire doors prevent fires escaping but when someone is in the room it’s giving them no chance.”
Four others were in the house at the time of the blaze but they all escaped uninjured.
Ms Mcdermott, who was originally from New York, had been invited back to the house by her friend Cathal Sheridan.
He described how he attempted to rescue her but was held back by his fellow housemates.
He said: “My abiding memory is roaring Grace’s name. She was the nicest girl you could ever meet, the smartest, most intelligent girl.” Ms Mcdemott’s father Robert and her fiance Colin O’neill attended the inquest.
Mr O’neill, from Portmarnock, North Dublin, told the court that after the tragedy gardai gave him back the engagement ring he had presented to his wife-to-be.