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DCU lecturer (26) died from carbon monoxide poisoning during a house fire in Limerick

Grace McDermott died in a fire in Limerick last year.

AN INQUEST INTO the death of a DCU lecturer heard she died due to carbon monoxide poisoning during a house fire in Limerick.

Grace McDermott (26) had traveled to Limerick from her home in Dublin to take part in the Great Limerick Run on 30 April, 2017.

Limerick Coroner’s Court heard, how, having lost her hotel room key card, she stayed at a friend’s house after unexpectedly bumping into him while out socialising after the race.

The court heard the cause of the fire was likely due to a lamp falling over onto a couch in the bedroom where McDermott slept.

The lamp, the court heard, was missing its base and was resting against the couch.

Garda Sergeant Dave Bourke, a scenes of crime officer attached to Henry Street Garda Station, said the “initial focus” of the garda investigation into the fire centred around a laptop charger discovered in the room following the fire, however this was later discounted.

The investigation switched to the lamp, but he added:

We found no evidence of a lamp.

It was accepted by all parties the lamp could have been destroyed in the fire, or “torn” off by the force of water used by firefighters to douse the flames.

Paul Collins, a forensic scientist, who carried out a flammable field test on the partially destroyed couch, agreed under questioning from solicitor Cian O’Carroll, representing the McDermott family, that if the sofa had been compliant with the highest fire safety standards, it may not have occurred.

Limerick Coroner John McNamara said the only verdict he could return was an “accidental death”.

Unfortunate

He said a number of unfortunate events had led to McDermott staying at her friend’s house after she had become separated from another friend with whom she had travelled to Limerick from Dublin and had planned to stay with in the hotel.

“A series of events transpired which unfortunately led to Grace being in the house where a lamp had fallen over, and it would appear, was the catalyst for the fire,” he said.

The room was fitted with a fire-door, the court heard.

McNamara said he intended to contact the Department of the Environment, recommending smoke detectors be fitted in every bedroom of every new home in the future, as a mandatory safety measure.

“I don’t know how practical it is…but I don’t think it would be a high price to pay to save some lives,” he said.

Fire-doors prevent (fires) escaping, but when someone is in the room, it’s giving them no chance.

Four others were in the house at the time of the fire but all four escaped uninjured.

Cathal Sheridan, a friend of McDermott’s, who invited her back to the house, described how he attempted to rescue her but was held back by his fellow housemates.

“My abiding memory is roaring Grace’s name. She was the nicest girl you could ever meet; the smartest, most intelligent girl,” Sheridan said.

McDemott’s father Robert, and her fiancé, Colin O’Neill, attended the inquest.

O’Neill, from Portmarnock, told the court gardaí gave him back the engagement ring he had presented to his beloved wife-to-be, following her tragic death.

Read: Tributes paid to “incredible person” Grace McDermott after tragic death in house fire

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    Mute Dean Anderson
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    May 15th 2014, 2:19 PM

    Ireland should have some formal way of rewarding and honouring its citizens. The president could present them each year for achievement, charity work etc. in various fields

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    Mute Rawoc
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    May 15th 2014, 2:27 PM

    This is long overdue and would be a worthy scheme to acknowledge the contribution of people in our society who make special contributions but we would need special measures to ensure independence and freedom from overt political influence!

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    Mute Jeremy Usborne
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    May 15th 2014, 3:24 PM

    Isn’t there a ‘Presidents medal’ of some kind?

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    Mute Dylan
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    May 15th 2014, 3:56 PM

    You receive something similar from the president for completing the gold Gaisce award, thats the only similar thing I can think of though what you can do to achieve a Gaisce award is a lot more restricted than an OBE or other awards.

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    Mute Alan Kennedy
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    May 15th 2014, 4:35 PM

    I don’t agree. It would just be abused by politicians for back slaps and laughs.

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    Mute Dylan Drein
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    May 15th 2014, 4:46 PM

    Jesus Christ is that the song that’s going to be played every time some new positive development is suggested, “no we can’t because politicians”? For an island of over 4,500,000 people I think we can do some things without mentioning one of the 166 people sitting in the Dáil. An award recognising the talents and achievements of our own is long overdue at this stage. Would she have been recognised at all in her field if she had stayed and done her research here in Ireland? Probably not, which is a bit embarrassing for us if you ask me.

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    Mute cosmological
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    May 15th 2014, 2:17 PM

    Wonderful – science is paramount.

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    Mute RiobairdOMaingain
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    May 15th 2014, 4:53 PM

    How can awards like that exist when there is no empire? Just seems a bit odd getting an Order of the British Empire when there isn’t one to start with.

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    Mute Niall Keaveney
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    May 15th 2014, 6:21 PM

    I’d love to be awarded an OBE. So I could tell them where to shove it.

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    Mute John Curry
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    May 15th 2014, 2:28 PM

    anyone know what the restrictions are?

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    Mute J. Dunn
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    May 15th 2014, 3:37 PM

    2 for 1 drinks at Parliament bar on Mondays 4:00-5:30.

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    Mute James O'Shea
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    May 15th 2014, 10:39 PM

    Re introduce The Order of Saint Patrick???

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