‘An absolute unadulterated tragedy’ - Accidental death recorded by inquest into death of Swinford couple in house fire

THE deaths of a Swinford couple in a house fire has been ruled as accidental.

Describing the deaths of Tom (62) and Eileen Mahon (61) of Deerpark, Swinford, as ‘an absolute tragedy’, Pat O’Connor, Coroner for Mayo, ruled that they had died from severe burning after a fire engulfed their house in the early hours of March 26.

The Mahons were well-regarded in the Swinford area and owned a successful furniture business in the town. No evidence was found of any third-party involvement in the fire that claimed their lives.

On Tuesday morning, March 26, 2024, shortly after 2am, Garda Patricia Timoney and her husband, Garda Brian Cosgrave, were awoken by the sound of their dog barking at their home in Deerpark, Swinford.

Neighbours woken

Giving evidence at the inquest into the deaths of the Mahons at Swinford courthouse yesterday (Monday), Garda Timoney said her husband, Brian Cosgrave, went downstairs to check on their dog. She then heard him shouting that there was a fire next door at the home of Tom and Eileen Mahon.

Garda Timoney called emergency services at 2.05am and requested the fire brigade. She recalled hearing her husband calling for Tom and Eileen Mahon but receiving no response.

Garda Timoney and Garda Cosgrave woke their three children and removed them from their house, by which point the flames were already coming up through the roof of the Mahon’s home.

The family then got into their car and moved it away from the scene, as they were fearful their house would catch alight due to the large amount of hot ash and embers falling around them.

At 2.09, John Kennedy of the Swinford Fire Brigade received a fax saying there was a house fire at Deerpark, Swinford. The Swinford unit mobilised to at 2.17 with support from the Charlestown and Kiltimagh units.

Two gardaí were present at the scene upon their arrival, by which time the fire was ‘at an advanced stage’.

Garda Timoney informed Mr Kennedy that it was likely that the couple were still in the house, as three vehicles were parked in the driveway.

Garda John Garrett of Swinford Garda Station made a number of attempts to contact Tom and Eileen Mahon by phone, but could not get through.

In a statement read to the coroner’s court, Garda Garrett said that the fire ‘at this point appeared to be catastrophic and any chance of the occupants surviving were slim’.

Extensive damage

Attending the fire, Mr Kennedy saw that only three ground floor rooms had not been engulfed. He broke the windows in each of these rooms to see if was anyone was inside, but no one was found.

He instructed the fire crew from Charlestown to break open the back door as a means of access. He also assigned the Kiltimagh unit to damp the roof of the neighbouring house as fire embers were landing on its roof.

By 4.23am, the fire was largely contained and mostly out.

At 5.20am, the fire bridge located the first casualty, lying on their back in the archway between the conservatory and the garden of the house. The other was found on the floor of the living room in the front of the house.

Sgt Conor Drury then decided to preserve the scene as the fire brigade proceeded with damping the remaining fire pockets.

At 4.35pm, Dr Frances Rowely arrived and pronounced Tom and Eileen Mahon deceased.

At approximately 5pm, the bodies were removed from the house and conveyed to Mayo University Hospital under Garda supervision.

Testimony from Detective Garda Brian Barry described the house as being ‘extensively damaged by the fire, with the front of the building more severely damaged than the rear’. The roof structure had burned and collapsed into the lower floors, while a downstairs room at the front of the house sustained less damage.

The most intensive burning occurred in the front of the house, particularly the left section, which sustained significant enough structural damage to cause the first floor and roof to collapse.

Garda Barry formed the opinion that the fire originated at the front left side of the building in an upstairs bedroom, before progressing down into the front sitting room and spreading through the rest of the house.

“Due to the extensive damage caused by the fire I am unable to establish the ignition source/cause of the fire in that location,” read Garda Barry’s statement to the court.

A number of fire-debris samples were taken for analysis by Forensic Science Ireland to attempt to identify the presence of an accelerant. Tissue samples were also taken to Claremorris Garda Station before being conveyed to Forensic Science Ireland.

Witnesses questioned on the matter told the court that there was no evidence of any accelerant or any third party involvement in the blaze

Unstoppable blaze

Pat O’Connor, ruled the deaths of Tom and Eileen Mahon from severe burns as accidental.

Describing their deaths as an ‘absolute tragedy’, he conveyed his sympathies to the Mahons’ family and friends.

“There aren’t words to express the absolute tragic nature of what happened to Mr and Ms Mahon,” said Mr O’Connor.

“A young couple, enjoying the early fruits of grandparenthood, and enjoyed a fruitful and very fulfilling life. To lose one parent is terrible, to lose two parents at one time is an absolute unadulterated tragedy.”

He described their deaths as having occurred in ‘extraordinary circumstances’ and said the fire was ‘unstoppable’.

Mr O’Connor also thanked all those who attended the scene of the tragedy.

Brendan Donnelly, solicitor for the Mahon family, thanked the Fire Service, An Garda Síochána and the people of Swinford for their response to what he called a ‘shocking tragedy’.