Foul play is ruled out as two die in fire

GARDAÍ ruled out foul play yesterday in a house fire which left a father of seven and a woman dead.

Tony Spain, 49, was a well known Dubliner. He had lived in Cabra, in the north city, for the last decade. A former Defence Force member, he had fallen on hard times.

Locals regarded the former Sheriff Street resident as an affable neighbour and were mourning his death yesterday. A woman, believed to be his partner, aged 29, also died during the fire.

The blaze broke out late on Tuesday night in a two-storey house on Ellesmere Avenue, Cabra.

The fire on the premises, broken up into four apartments, is believed to have started at the rear on the ground level. An emergency call alerted fire services at around 10pm. Four units of the Dublin Fire Brigade rushed to the scene.

Mr Spain was removed by ambulance to the Mater Hospital but was later pronounced dead. His partner’s body was taken from the scene and removed to the city morgue last night for a post-mortem.

Her body was reportedly badly burnt and unrecognisable and may require DNA tests to help gardaí identify her. It is believed she was in bed when the blaze broke out.

Several other occupants of the house escaped unharmed and were taken in by neighbours yesterday.

A garda technical team also arrived and sealed off the scene. However, it was thought by yesterday evening that no foul play was suspected in the fire, a garda spokesman said.

Speaking in the wake of the deaths, deputy Dublin Lord Mayor Aodhan O’Ríordáin said: “Tony was very well known. He was a lovely chap. He lived down on Sheriff Street for 30 years. A totally inoffensive guy.”

Locals say Mr Spain used to serve in the army. His children regularly visited him in Cabra, where he is believed to have been staying with his partner.

His children, five girls and two boys aged 10 to 25, were last night said to be distraught at the loss of their father.

The lethal blaze follows the death of an elderly woman in her Waterford home after her residence went up in flames on Monday night this week. Vera Stafford, 76, lived alone and was pronounced dead after emergency services were called when locals saw smoke billowing from the home at Farren Park.