Gardaí have ruled out foul play in the death of a three-month-old baby girl who died in a house fire and believe the fire may have been started by a smouldering lamp in the baby's room. Barry Roche, Southern Correspondent, reports.
Sadbh McCarthy died from smoke inhalation after a fire broke out at around 5 a.m. yesterday in the upstairs bedroom of her house at Rosewood in Ballincollig, just outside Cork city.
Gardaí believe a smouldering bedside lamp caught fire and ignited a curtain and part of a bed and that the baby, who was sleeping in a Moses basket on a stand in the room, was overcome by the fumes.
The baby's mother, Ms Deirdre McCarthy (23), and a friend who was staying in the house, managed to get the baby out of the smoke-filled room and tried to resuscitate her outside.
However, they were unable to revive the baby.
Two units of Ballincollig Fire Brigade and a unit of Cork City Fire Brigade were quickly on the scene and firefighters also tried to resuscitate the baby before an ambulance crew arrived and also tried resuscitation.
The baby was rushed to Cork University Hospital where doctors also attempted to save the child but she was pronounced dead shortly before 6 a.m.
The baby's mother was not injured in the fire and was being comforted by relatives and friends yesterday.
The fire was confined to the baby's bedroom, but gardaí yesterday cordoned off the semi-detached house and technical experts carried out an examination of the room to establish the cause of the fire.
"We've carried out a preliminary examination and it appears that the fire was started by a smouldering lamp.
"It appears to have been a very tragic accident and it is desperately sad for everyone involved," said a Garda source.
Ms McCarthy's parents - with whom she lives in the house - had been on holiday in Tenerife but cut short their holiday and were expected back in Cork yesterday evening after hearing the tragic news.
Local Fine Gael County Councillor Mr Derry Canty said the tragedy had shocked the town.
"We're all devastated. It's what on everyone's lips in Ballincollig today.
"It's just so sad, what with the baby being just a few months old, everyone is desperately sad over it."