A FIRE which killed an 82-year-old woman in Co Louth yesterday may have been caused by an electrical fault, the fire services have said.
Margaret Doyle died after the fire broke out in her home at Readypenny, between Ardee and Dundalk, early yesterday.
A passerby on his way to work noticed flames from the isolated cottage and raised the alarm shortly before 7am.
Gardaí, an ambulance and local fire services as well as a fire crew from Dundalk were called to the cottage. The crew recovered the sole occupant of the house, but attempts to revive Mrs Doyle were unsuccessful.
She was taken to Louth County Hospital in Dundalk where a post- mortem was carried out yesterday afternoon.
Louth chief fire officer Eamon Woulfe said that the fire was already very well established when the crew arrived and may have been burning for some time. It is thought the fire may have started in the living room of the property.
Expressing sympathy to the family of Mrs Doyle, Mr Woulfe described the incident as a “terrible tragedy” that again underlined how quickly fire can spread.
Local Garda Supt Eugene Brennan said the name of the victim had been withheld until a family member in England had been informed about the tragedy.
It is understood the victim had three sons, two of whom were living locally.
Fr Michael Rowe, parish priest at St Michael’s Church, Darver, said there was shock and disbelief in the community that a tragedy like a fire could have taken the woman’s life.
“The community offers its sympathy to her sons and her friends.
“It is very sad because she lost her brother four weeks ago and she was dealing with that tragedy.”
He said that Mrs Doyle had been living alone quietly and privately. She loved gardening and spent a lot of time in her garden, he said. She had also been the church organist for some years.
“She was a very good member of the community and very well known in the area,” he said.
Locals said that they were shocked when they heard the news.
One local businessman said he heard the fire brigade and thought there had been a car crash.
“People are very shocked that something like that would happen in this area,” he said.
He said some of the local old cottages were in need of renovation and rewiring.
Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council Councillor Declan Breathnach said the fire was another terrible tragedy for the county, following the deaths of the three McDonagh brothers in Moneymore.
He offered sympathies on behalf of the council to the victim’s family.
He also said it was very important that people had smoke alarms fitted and that they checked electrical appliances regularly. He also called on people to keep a close eye on their elderly neighbours.