Neighbours’ frantic bid to save mother and son from fire

AN ELECTRIC blanket fault is believed be the likely cause of a house fire that claimed the lives of an elderly woman and her son yesterday.

Intense heat and smoke forced neighbours back before firemen recovered the bodies of mother-of-six Kathleen Hurley, 89, and her son Jeremiah, 50, from the family home near Dunmanway, Co Cork. Both are believed to have died from smoke inhalation.

Neighbour Seán Hurley, who is not related to the victims, said: “The flames were too powerful. The smoke was penetrating. We did our best but it wasn’t good enough.”