SON’S BRAVE FIGHT AS DAD KILLED IN BLAZE
Neighbour helped battle flames in bid to save ex-councillor
Seamus and James Houlihan Only one of Mr Houlihan’s two dogs survived wasn’t breathing. I said to James to open all the windows to let the smoke out. It was hard to see because I had my shirt pulled up to me. The smoke was terrible.”
Mr Conway, 61, said despite their best efforts they couldn’t revive Mr Houlihan.
He added: “I was pulling Seamus, I was shaking him and calling his name but there was no movement out of him, nothing at all.
“The fire brigade came so quick then and they ran in with the oxygen masks.”
Mr Conway helped save one of Mr Houlihan’s two beloved pet dogs. The other was pronounced dead at the scene.
He added: “We brought one into the sitting room but he was dead.
“We got the other fella back Geraldine and Seamus Houlihan to life and they took him to the vet.” Mr Conway said when he entered the house there was about “half a foot of water” inside the property. Paying tribute to the beloved pensioner, he added: “It was a terrible thing to happen. Seamus was a lovely, quiet man and so was his wife. They are a lovely quiet family.” Mr Houlihan’s wife Geraldine passed away peacefully at the family home two years ago. Tributes flowed in yesterday for the father of two and former Labour Party councillor. Mr Houlihan, who was in his early 80s, was elected to Limerick City Council in 1998 and was a well-known champion of rights for the elderly. He was also an active member of the Irish Senior Citizens’ Parliament national organisation.
A Garda spokeswoman said the scene was “preserved for technical examination” but gardai believed the fire was “accidental”.
It’s understood the blaze may have been caused by an electrical fault, however, gardai said their “inquiries are ongoing”.
A clothes drier machine was removed from Mr Houlihan’s house by authorities.
Former Education Minister and Labour’s only TD for Limerick Jan O’sullivan also paid tribute to Mr Houlihan.
She said: “It’s a huge shock. My sympathy goes out to Seamus’ two sons James and Kieran.
“Seamus was a very good public representative and a very nice man. He was a real mark on the Southill community and he’ll be sadly missed by everyone.”
news@irishmirror.ie