GARDAÍ INVESTIGATING an apparent fire attack on a house in Tallaght, west Dublin believe the bravery of a 14-year-old boy may have saved his sister and three other children.
A fire broke out at the home of Danielle McKeever in the Deerpark area in the early hours of yesterday morning.
She said yesterday she had gone to bed at about 10pm on Sunday and had been woken at 1am by her 14-year-old brother, Seán.
“I tried to go out on to the landing and it was full of smoke,” she told RTÉ news. “Then I went into the other bedroom and told the boys to wake up. And Seán grabbed the baby.”
Four children – a baby, a six-year-old and a 10-year-old, as well as Seán, were staying with Danielle on Sunday night.
“I went into my sister’s room and I seen the baby and then I grabbed the baby,” said Seán yesterday.
The five first took refuge together in Danielle’s bedroom, at the top of the three-storey duplex, before Seán decided to jump from the window to seek help. The fall was nine metres to the garden below. His fall was on to grass.
Gardaí say that were it not for Seán’s initiative and bravery the fire may have resulted in a major tragedy for the family, with a significant risk that some or all of the children could have lost their lives.
Gardaí said the fire was not the result of a pipe-bomb as had been earlier reported, but they are treating the incident as suspicious. There was considerable smoke damage to the home.
All five were taken to Tallaght hospital where they were treated for smoke inhalation and Seán was treated for a leg injury. They left hospital yesterday afternoon.
