The Roscommon coroner issued a warning about the danger of smoking in bed after a 75-year-old woman died in a house fire in Ballaghaderreen. An inquest heard how her daughter's boyfriend discovered a blaze in his bedroom shortly after he fell asleep. Roscommon Coroner's Court heard Vivien Doohan died after a fire at her home in 14 Priory Park, Ballaghaderreen, on October 16, 2022. Francis Hardiman said he was in the house that day visiting his girlfriend, Maddie Doohan, Vivien's daughter, and went to bed at around 8pm.
Mr Hardiman said he was asleep in bed when he was woken up by what sounded like breaking glass and crackling. He said he saw there was a fire in the corner of the room, and the room was covered in smoke. He said he went next door to tell a neighbour to call the Gardaí and fire brigade. He said he ran back into the house three times and tried to get Vivien out, but the heat and smoke was very strong. The inquest later heard the fire service brought Vivian out of the house at around 9.30pm, but she was unresponsive.
Maddie Doohan, Vivien's daughter, said she was in town when the fire broke out but was quickly rushed back by a neighbour's father. She said paramedics were working on her mother but later told her she had died. Maddie said her mother used a crutch to get around. The inquest heard Vivien was pronounced dead at 11.24pm. Garda Fergus Maloney, from Castlebar Garda Station, said the seat of the fire was in the upstairs bedroom at the rear of the house, where he recovered a cigarette butt.
He said there was a V-shaped pattern of burning visible at the left side of the bed. He said this area was directly above the cigarette butt. The inquest also heard how Vivien was in the front bedroom at the time of the fire. Coroner Brian O'Connor said she died from smoke inhalation due to fire and returned a verdict of misadventure.
He said we need to take every precaution to minimise the risks associated with house fires. He said smoking in bed is like lighting in a small fire - don't do it, he added. He said Mr Hardiman risked his life by going back into the house three times to try to safe Vivien.
