Woman dies after fire rescue

A SINGLE woman who lost her life in a house fire in Co Limerick early is being hailed a hero for saving the lives of her brother-in-law and her niece.

Nora May O’Hanlon, 64, died in the fire which gutted a house in Corbery Estate, Glin, at about 5.30am yesterday.

Ms O’Hanlon managed to raise the alarm, enabling her brother-in-law PJ Woulfe and his daughter Patricia, who were asleep upstairs, to flee the building in time.

Ms O’Hanlon, who was living in the downstairs part of the semi-detached house, got trapped after raising the alarm and her body was later recovered by firefighters.

Ms O’Hanlon, who was from Athea, moved to Glin about 10 years ago after her sister, who was married to PJ, died from cancer and left him a young family.

Local publican John Barrett said: “She was a lovely lady and came to Athea after PJ’s wife, Nora May’s sister, died. She helped bring up the children, all girls. She was a very quiet woman and PJ brought her down to Mass every Saturday night.

“There is no doubt, Nora May saved their lives as the house went up within minutes. The whole village is in shock and there is a great gloom over the whole place. They are a lovely family. PJ is a great family man and brought up his daughters after his wife died and Nora May was like a mother there for them after their own mother died.”

According to local sources, Ms O’Hanlon was awoken by noise and on going to investigate, found that a fire had broken out.

She awoke PJ and his daughter Patricia, and it is believed all three got out.

However, it appears Ms O’Hanlon tried to get back into the house, possibly to retrieve some items, when she was overcome by smoke.