Woman dies in house fire

Ray Ryan

Her body was removed to Cork University Hospital for a post-mortem examination and the scene of the fire was preserved for forensic and technical examinations to try and establish the cause of the outbreak.

No one else was present in the house at Main Street, on the main Cork-Limerick road, when the fire broke out at around 6.45am. Foul play is not suspected.

A passerby raised the alarm and gardaí rushed to the scene. Four units of the Cork County Fire Service from Mallow and Charleville under station officers Tony Douglas and Donal Forde fought the blaze and brought it under control.

Flames were shooting out through the first floor of the building when firemen arrived. The roof later caved in. Townspeople were shocked, especially as the deceased was a popular member of the community.

A rosary will be said for Ms Hickey at 8pm tonight and her remains will be removed from O’Keeffe’s Funeral Home in Buttevant to St Mary’s Church tomorrow evening at 8pm.

Mass is at 2pm on Friday followed by the funeral at St Bridget’s Cemetery.