Mother fights for life as son dies in fire

FIREFIGHTERS found a critically ill young mother lying in bed next to her dead toddler, with her other little boy lying unconscious beside them after a house fire in Cork yesterday.

Stacey Ellard, 26, from Togher in Cork, was last night fighting for her life in Cork University Hospital’s (CUH) intensive care unit unaware that her youngest boy, Cian, aged two, is dead.

Her other little boy, Calvin, aged four, who started primary school in nearby Togher Boys NS a few weeks ago, showed slight signs of improvement yesterday afternoon, but is still officially listed as critical. Both are being treated for severe smoke inhalation.