Family settles action for €115k over daughter’s death in fire

THE family of a six-year-old girl who died in a house fire allegedly caused by an electrical fault settled their action against Sligo Borough Council in the High Court yesterday for a total of €115,000. The award was secured without admission of liability.

The proceedings were taken by Philomena Jinks, 48, of Chapel Hill, Sligo, who sued on behalf of the family. The fire in which her daughter, Sarah, died occurred on January 10, 1999.

The court was told her husband, Frank, had gone back into the flames and smoke in two failed attempts to rescue his daughter receiving extensive burns all over his face, neck, back and left arm.

On the second day of the proceedings yesterday and after talks between the sides outside the court Luan O Braonain SC, for the defendant, informed Mr Justice Vivian Lavan the matter had been settled.

Ms Jinks told the judge she had moved into the house at St Edwards Terrace, Sligo in September 1998. Her two brothers, Val and John Conlon, were living there and it was the family home for decades. She moved in with her husband and family as they were waiting for a new house to be built for them in Ballymote, Sligo.

She said the house was in an appalling condition with water running down the wall and there was a problem with a fuse box.

The court was told six complaints were made to the corporation between October 1998 and January 1999.

A health board official had inspected the house and warned the corporation that water leaks could give rise to serious electrical problems in the house as the wiring was old and the walls were damp.

Ms Jinks had gone to bed at 11.45pm on the night of the fire and was asleep when her husband told her to get out as there was a fire. She got her son Philip, 2, and her daughter Sarah while her husband got Breege, 8. When they got to thebedroom door the banister was in flames. They eventually got down to the bottom but discovered Sarah was on the top of the stairs. “I wanted my daughter but she was gone,” said Ms Jinks.

Solicitor for Ms Jinks, Mr Damien Tansey told reporters outside the court it had been a very difficult 10 years for the family after the death.

He said liability was still denied but an award has been made and the family was happy with it.