An elderly couple died of carbon monoxide poisoning in their home after a gas flue was blocked over, an inquest heard today.
Thomas and Treasa MacGabhann, who were 82 and 81-years-old, were rushed to St Vincent's Hospital after they were found in their home at Annaville Park in Dublin's Dundrum on September 24, 2003.
Dr John Ryan, a consultant in the accident and emergency ward, told the Dublin City Coroner's Court that a high level of carbon monoxide had been found in their blood.
The inquest heard there had been building work taking place behind the couple's house, including plastering on a back wall where there was a flue to release the emissions from their gas central heating system.
Mr John Rogers, from Nutgrove Fire Station, who was part of the emergency team called to the scene, said: "As soon as we burst in the door we could get a strong smell of fumes."
He told the court the flue had been blocked over. "We got them to break around the plaster and we could actually see the fumes coming out," Mr Rogers said. "It was the same smell as we got in the house."
Mr Ciaran O'Neill, who was constructing three houses to the rear of the MacGabhann's with his partner Mr Michael Coyne, told the court that he had patched up scrapes in the plastering work he had ordered on the MacGabhann's wall.
The courtroom, including 11 relatives of the MacGabhanns, heard Mr O'Neill had contracted plasterer Hugh Meenan, who had used Mr Donal O'Toole and Mr Oliver O'Toole for the job.
But Donal O'Toole was adamant that the gap for the vents was still there when they finished in late July or August.
He added: "Someone came along afterwards and filled in over it." Mr O'Toole told the inquest he had ensured the vents were clean by using his finger and a wire brush.