Gardaí prepare file on fire death

GARDAÍ are to prepare a file for the Cork city coroner after a man who jumped nearly 50ft to escape a blaze in a block of flats died from his injuries.

Kevin Kiely, a 35-year-old from Ballagh, Co Limerick died in Cork University Hospital on Sunday night.

He was one of four people who were forced to jump when the block of flats at North Mall went up in flames early last Thursday.

It is understood that Mr Kiely plunged from the top floor and sustained serious head injuries when he landed on the road below.

The three others had a miraculous escape, with none of them suffered serious injuries.

Superintendent Con Cadogan, who is heading an investigation, said Gardaí were currently treating the fire as an accident although he stressed they hadn’t concluded their investigation.

“It is pointing towards being accidental. It appears that it could have been an electrical fault which started near a television and DVD player,” he said.

The fire caused extensive damage to the building, which is next to the Franciscan Well micro-brewery.

Although fire brigade units were quickly on the scene they were unable to contain it to the one apartment it started in, although they did manage to stop the fire spreading to adjoining buildings.

It is estimated that more than €750,000 of damage was caused to the three-storey building.

Superintendent Cadogan said that gardaí had spoken to a number of witnesses and didn’t require any more.

“We will now be preparing a file for the inquest into Mr Kiely’s death,” the superintendent added.