Son dashed into blazing bedroom in effort to save his mother’s life

A MAN who gave up his job to care for his elderly mother dashed into a blazing bedroom to try and save her, a Limerick inquest heard yesterday.

Mrs Mary Condon, of Ashbrook House, Kilfinane, Co Limerick died from smoke inhalation the day after celebrating her 96th birthday.

Her son Paschal, who left the hotel industry 10 years ago to look after her, said they watched the six o’clock news together on February 10 last in her upstairs bedroom/sittingroom. His mother sat near an open fire with her head propped up with pillows. She snoozed off before he went down stairs to cook a meal.

On going to check her at 6.50pm he saw smoke coming from her room and he dashed in to save his mother. The room was full of black smoke and the TV was on.

He knew at that stage that she could not be alive.

Mr Condon said he could see nothing due to the smoke and he tried to reach out and grab his mother, but her chair was burned at that stage. He left the room to try and catch his breath but when he tried to go back in there was too much smoke and he dashed downstairs to phone the fire brigade.

They arrived within 15 minutes.

Garda Michael Reidy said on going to the scene of the fire he met senior fire officer Michael Collins who informed him that two of his colleagues found the charred remains of an elderly woman. She was in a kneeling position near an open fire and they brought the body downstairs.

Garda Reidy said an examination of the scene confirmed that the fire started accidentally.

Pathologist Dr James O’Driscoll said the deceased suffered severe burns and death was due to smoke inhalation.

Coroner Dr Tony Casey recorded a verdict of accidental death.