Ireland

Dublin fire which killed woman and three children 'caused by a tea light'

A fatal fire in west Dublin was caused by a tea light, an inquest has heard
A fatal fire in west Dublin was caused by a tea light, an inquest has heard A fatal fire in west Dublin was caused by a tea light, an inquest has heard

A FIRE which killed a woman and three children in west Dublin last year began after a tea light set fire to a large TV screen, an inquest has heard.

Annemarie O'Brien (27), who was eight months pregnant, her two-year-old daughter Paris and her sister's children - four-year-old Jordan McGinn and 22-month-old Holly O'Brien - died from smoke inhalation following a fire in supported accommodation on March 8 2017.

Ms O'Brien's sister Biddy was also in the apartment at the time but survived the fire.

A forensic expert told Dublin Coroner's Court hot gasses from a tea light had risen up and set fire to the television.

The expert said two of the three fire alarms in the apartment had been disabled.

Biddy O'Brien, mother of two of the children, told the court no tea lights were lit on the night of the blaze.

Coroner Dr Myra Cullinan returned a verdict of accidental death in all four cases.