Mystery surrounds fire death in London

Michael Commins

ALL-Ireland Final Day 2017 will remain etched in the family circle of John Nolan who died tragically in London on September 17. The Mayo native sustained serious burns while walking close to his home in Haringey, North London.
Mystery surrounds what happened to John, a native of Lislackey near Swinford town. He was aged 70 and had resided alone in Haringey area for many years. It is understood that John left Swinford in the 1960’s and had lived all his life in London since then. All of the Nolan family emigrated from Swinford back through the years.
It is totally unclear what happened to John while out walking and how his clothes caught fire. Onlookers called the emergency services and the police. On arrival they found him ablaze and quickly extinguished the fire.
John was airlifted by London Air Ambulance to a hospital specialising in burns but later died from the severity of his injuries.
People in the Haringey area who knew John as a gentle and easy- going soul reacted with sadness and sorrow to the tragedy. John, who had been in poor health for some time, was described as a ‘lovely man who always had a kind word for all.’
He was well got in the neighbourhood and was a familiar figure as he walked his dog. People responded to his tranquil nature and the mystery surrounding his death has shocked a lot of people in that locality.
His sister, Mary Caffrey, said her brother ‘wouldn’t hurt a fly’.  “We can’t come to terms with it at all. We don’t know how it happened, it’s all still a mystery.”
It is understood that John was planning to meet up with his brother a few hours later to watch the Mayo v Dublin All-Ireland Final on television.