Security hiked at hospital as gardaí probe second blaze

EXTRA security staff have been drafted into a hospital following the second fire in 24 hours in the same section of the unit, a blaze which gardaí describe as “highly suspicious”.

An 80-year-old woman could have perished in the blaze but for the efforts of a night porter who plucked her from her bed to safety at South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel.

Gardaí are probing if the fires were set deliberately either by a patient, a member of staff or someone from outside the hospital. A garda spokesman said an inquiry is underway and the scene was being technically examined.

“The matter is in its early stage of investigation but we are treating the matter as highly suspicious,” the garda added.

For the second night in a row, patients at the hospital were evacuated from their rooms because of a fire. At 2.45am yesterday, a porter noticed a bed on fire in a room on Medical Ward 3.

The porter immediately removed an 80-year-old female patient uninjured to safety. In line with emergency procedures at the hospital, 22 patients were evacuated to another part of the hospital, a Health Service Executive (HSE) spokesperson said.

“Gardaí have sealed off the area and are carrying out a criminal investigation. This follows a similar but less serious incident yesterday when as a precaution, and in line with emergency plan procedures, part of the main building at South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel was evacuated for a time at 4.15am when a small fire was discovered in an ancillary facility of the same Medical 3 Ward,” the spokesperson added.

Damage was minimal and there were no injuries. The HSE has employed additional security while the investigation is underway.

Hospital general manager Breda Kavanagh said the procedures which followed the discovery of the incident highlighted the HSE’s priority to ensure patient and staff safety at all times.

She also wished to acknowledge the understanding attitude of patients and relatives involved. “Hospital services continue as normal. Staff, as part of their induction receive basic training in fire prevention and participate in regular drills and awareness sessions regarding evacuation and emergency procedures,” she said.