Woman dies in hen party tragedy

A WOMAN on a weekend hen party died yesterday and her sister is in a critical condition in hospital after a suspected gas or fumes leak in a tourist town hotel.

Miriam Reidy, in her 30s and originally from Ballyhahill, west Limerick, was found unconscious on the floor near a bed in her room at the Trident Hotel in Kinsale, Co Cork, just before 2pm yesterday.

Ms Reidy, who now has an address in Lisloose, Tralee, Co Kerry, had also worked for some time at AIB in Castleisland, Co Kerry.

Her sister, Patricia, who was sharing the room with her, was found unconscious nearby.

They had been in Kinsale with friends celebrating the impending marriage of their first cousin, named locally as Marie Reidy.

Some of the group stayed overnight in the White Lady Hotel nearby while the rest opted to stay in the Trident.

But concerns mounted at around lunchtime yesterday when some members of the party had not checked out.

The alarm was raised when the dead woman and her sister were found in their room.

Paramedics and firefighters from Kinsale rushed to the hotel just after 2pm. At least two doctors and several firefighters, all wearing breathing apparatus, entered the hotel.

Doctors worked on both women for some time but Miriam was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later. A full evacuation of the hotel was ordered a short time later.

Patricia was rushed to Cork University Hospital (CUH) where she was in a critical condition last night. A postmortem on the deceased is due to take place at CUH today.

Three other members of the hen party, who had visited the White Lady and other pubs in the town on Saturday night, were also taken to CUH for treatment.

Two further people who had been staying at the Trident later presented themselves at CUH complaining of feeling unwell. All were discharged after treatment.

It is understood that two other hotel guests also presented at the Mercy University Hospital complaining of feeling unwell.

It also emerged last night that a doctor had been called to the hotel on Saturday night to attend to another female guest who had complained of nausea, headaches and breathlessness.

Gardaí and the Health and Safety Authority are now conducting separate investigations into the cause of the incident.

The hotel room where the dead woman was found was immediately preserved and remained sealed off last night pending a garda forensic technical examination this morning.

A preliminary investigation of the room showed nothing of a suspicious or criminal nature.

The hotel car park, and a yard to the rear of one of its new wings, where several gas storage tanks and a boiler house are located, were also sealed off.

Forensic experts spent some time examining the gas storage area yesterday afternoon and pipes leading from that area.

Gardaí said last night that they are keeping an open mind on the cause of the tragedy pending the outcome of the postmortem exam results.

Hal McElroy, the general manager of the Trident Hotel, said he and all his staff were “devastated and shocked”.

“Firstly, our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those affected by this,” he said.

“As there are Garda and Health and Safety Authority investigations under way, we are not in a position to comment further on the actual incident, but we are cooperating fully with the investigations. Our immediate concern is to ensure that all guests and staff are safe and looked after.”

Hotel staff tried to contact as many check-out guests as they could yesterday to see if they were OK. A 24-hour helpline for anyone with concerns has been set up on 021-4779300.

‘They asked us if we were feeling ill’

SUSAN MILLS was in the bar of the Trident Hotel enjoying Sunday lunch with family when she noticed a SouthDoc vehicle pulling up in the carpark outside.

“Two very worried-looking medics got out. They had breathing apparatus with them. Then a garda squad car pulled up, then a unit of the fire brigade, followed by a second unit. An ambulance arrived and staff came in with a stretcher. Then another squad car and another doctor’s car.”

Mrs Mills, a pensioner from Sunday’s Well in Cork city, said the emergency service activity continued for about an hour before the building was evacuated. She said she understood the bedrooms had been cleared first.

“I think that is where the drama unfolded. The bedrooms would be a good bit away from the bar,” she said.

As Mrs Mills and her family left, they were asked by those involved in the evacuation process if they were feeling unwell.

“They asked us if we were feeling ill or sick. But we weren’t given any explanation as to why we were being asked to leave nor were we told what was happening.”

She was shaken by the incident, she said.