Child’s fireplace death inquest adjourned

An inquest into the death of a child in a freak fireplace accident has been adjourned for three months, pending instructions from the DPP.

Gardaí yesterday told Myra Cullinane, the Cork City coroner, they hope to have instructions within weeks from the DPP about whether criminal charges will issue in relation to the Fionn Dawson case.

Fionn, 5, died at the family home in Coolgreen, Whites Cross, Co Cork, in April 2013.

It had been reported a chimney breast in the family home may have cracked or buckled, causing the fireplace or masonry to fall on the boy.

The Garda probe focused on whether a structural fault caused the incident.

Margot Bolster, the assistant state pathologist, said previously at an adjourned inquest, Fionn died from severe head and brain injuries due to blunt force trauma.

The matter was adjourned to June for mention.

Meanwhile, an inquest into the death of a child last April following a hit-and-run incident in east Cork was also adjourned.

Luke O’Donovan, 6, from Ballymacoda, died in Cork University Hospital, three days after he was hit by a car as he played near his home.

Gardaí are awaiting instructions from the DPP in relation to the case.