THE INQUEST into the death of a woman in a Limerick house fire has heard she died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Grace McDermott, 26, passed away after the fire at The Oaks, Riverbank, Annacotty, in the early hours of May 1, 2017.
Ms McDermott, who lived in Dublin and was a PhD researcher at Dublin City University, had been in Limerick to take part in the Great Limerick Run.
She had only stayed at the house, where her friend lived, after losing her hotel key card and becoming separated from the friend she had travelled to Limerick with.
According to the Irish Independent, the court heard that the fire was likely caused by a lamp, which had been missing its base, accidentally falling onto a sofa in the room where Ms McDermott was sleeping.
Forensic scientist Paul Collins carried out a flammable field test on the partially destroyed sofa.
Under questioning from solicitor Cian O’Carroll, representing the McDermott family, Mr Collins agreed that if the sofa had been compliant with the highest fire safety standards, it may not have occurred.
Returning a verdict of accidental death, Limerick Coroner John McNamara said: “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 added that he would be recommending to the Department of the Environment that in the future, every new home should have smoke detectors fitted in all its bedrooms.
Ms McDermott's fiancé Colin O’Neill told the inquest that following her death, gardaí gave him back the engagement ring he had proposed to her with.
