A MOTHER and her one-year-old son are critical after a fire at a house in Bray, Co Wicklow, yesterday morning. They were taken to Loughlinstown Hospital, thought the child was later transferred to Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin.
Gardai have confirmed that they are Ms Theresa Cahill and her son, Christopher. Two other children, aged three and four, and a baby-sitter escaped the fire in Oldcourt Avenue, in an estate off Balconnell Road.
The fire started in a room at the rear of the two-storey house.
It is understood the mother and child, who were sleeping in a front bedroom, were overcome by smoke. Both were unconscious when taken from the upstairs bedroom by the fire service.
Insp Pat Ward, at Bray Garda station, said several "brave efforts" were made by neighbours to rescue the two, but they were driven back by smoke.
Gardai at Bray said the fire was believed to have started accidentally. They are carrying out further inquiries, and a full forensic examination of the scene was made yesterday afternoon.
One fireman was also taken to hospital with slight burns and facial injuries, but they were not serious.
Two crews from Bray fire service and one from Greystones attended the fire.
A number of neighbours, using a ladder, entered the house by breaking the upstairs windows.
Mr Pat Costelloe said he tried to break down the door of the room next to the bedroom where the mother and child were sleeping but was driven back by smoke.