Polish man in house fire identified by dental

THE body of a Polish national who died in a house fire was identified by his dental records, an inquest in Limerick heard.

Przemysiaw Lautenberg, aged 28, had only been living in the house two weeks when he was burned to death. He had retired to bed early on the night of the tragedy as he planned to go job hunting the following day. His body was found by firefighters in the house at 20 Lyradale Avenue, Woodview Park, Caherdavin, in the early hours of January 15 last.

A student, Patrick Punch, who also stayed in the house, told the inquest he was beaten back by flames when he tried to force an interior door after he returned to find the house ablaze.

Mr Punch said he and friends had gone into town on the night of January 14. When they returned at around 3am by taxi he saw smoke coming from the house.

Mr Punch told the hearing he did not know the deceased well. “He was a quiet sort of fellow who smoked a good bit, but I don’t think he drank,” he said.

Sgt Damien Holian, Mayorstone, said he went to the scene of the fire at around 3.30am. While there, firefighters told him a body was found in the front room and was badly burned.

He found identification papers and a card from a dentist with Mr Lautenberg’s name on it.

Dentist Dr Eamon Noonan said he had treated Mr Lautenberg for a tooth abscess some time previously and had taken an x-ray.

He identified the body of the deceased with the help of these dental records at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital.

Pathologist Dr Elizabeth Mulcahy said Mr Lautenberg died from smoke inhalation.

The jury returned an open verdict in accordance with the medial evidence.