Patient caught fire while on a smoking break

A man suffered extensive burns after his clothes went on fire in the smoking area of a psychiatric facility were he was a resident, an inquest has heard.

Percy Ryan, 68, of Knockballyfookeen, Pallasgreen, Co Limerick, went to the smoking shed at O’Connell House, Newcastle West, Co Limerick, after lunch on July 22, 2011. At 2.10pm, nursing staff heard shouts from the smoking hut at the HSE-run facility, and found Mr Ryan, who was a smoker, was on fire.

“Percy was standing in the middle of the floor and there were flames coming up his left leg from his left side,” said Bridget Griffin, one of the nurses.