Couple died when fire engulfed home

A Swinford couple after a fire that broke out in a bedroom engulfed their entire home. 

An inquest into the deaths of Thomas (Tom) and Eileen Mahon, of Deerpark, Swinford, took place in their native town on Monday, October 7 last. The retired couple owned a furniture shop in the town for many years and were hugely respected.

Garda John Garrett, of Swinford Garda Station, told the hearing that at approximately 2am on March 26 last, a 999 call was received about a house fire at Deerpark, Swinford, with suspected casualties. Gda Garrett said he went to the scene and observed an "extensive fire" in a two-storey house, which he knew belonged to Tom and Eileen Mahon. 

“The fire service had arrived at the scene and were attempting to gain control of the fire, which appeared to be catastrophic at this point and any chance of occupants surviving was slim. I made attempts to contact both Tom and Eileen Mahon on their mobile phones [but] the numbers were not ringing.” 

Gda Garrett said he returned to the garda station at 4.30am to complete the critical incident report. He was notified at 5.15am that a body had been discovered inside the property.

The inquest also heard from next-door neighbour Garda Patricia Timoney, who rang 999 after her husband Gda Brian Cosgrove saw the blaze upon being awoken by barking from the family dog. She could hear him shouting the couple’s names but then he returned and told her the house was ablaze. She relayed this to the emergency operator and after seeing there were flames coming up through the roof of the house, she woke her three children and got them and the dog out of the house and away from the scene as they were fearful their own house would catch fire. A lot of smoke and hot ash and embers were falling through the air from next door. Swinford Fire Brigade and members of the gardaí then arrived on the scene.

Sergeant Conor Drury, of Swinford Garda Station, said the fire was at an advanced stage when he arrived at 2.10am and the heat coming from the house was intense. Three fire crews were in attendance and the ESB had been contacted and power switched off. 

Sgt Drury said he was of the firm opinion that Tom and Eileen Mahon were still in the house. The first casualty was found lying on their back in the archway next to the conservatory, where there was the least debris from the fire. There was no sign of life and the body was severely burned. He decided no further search could take place until members of the Garda Technical Bureau were present.

Gda Sgt Pat O’Hora said he entered the house at 9am and discovered a second body on the living room room at the front of the house. The two bodies were later identified through DNA as Tom and Eileen Mahon.

John Kennedy, Station Officer of Swinford Fire Station, who attended the scene, said it was determined at an early stage that all rooms iin the house were consumed by fire apart from three rooms on the ground floor. He broke the glazing in each of these rooms to see if any person was present but found nobody. He directed the fire crews to attack the fire with a number of hoses and also to dampen the roof of the neighbouring house where embers were landing. 

The fire was largely contained by 4.23am and the first casualty was located shortly after 5am, lying on their back in the archway between the conservatory (to the left of the house) and the garden. Another member of the fire crew later observed a body in the living room. The fire officers continued to dampen down the scene until such time as the gardaí gave permission to remove the bodies, which were then conveyed to Mayo University Hospital.

In his evidence, forensics expert Gda Brian Barry said he could not identify what set off the fire due to the level of destruction in the home and added there was no evidence of fire alarms in the property. The roof structure had collapsed into the lower floors. 

His opinion was that the origin of the fire was in the front left side of the building in an upstairs bedroom, progressing down into the front sitting room and burning up with the fire progressing into the rest of the house and through the roof. Due to the extensive damage caused by the fire, he was unable to establish the ignition source.

Extending thanks to the members of the emergency services who attended the scene, Mayo coroner Pat O’Connor said "it seemed to have been an impossible task at the house". He said the medical cause of death in both cases was severe burns due to a house fire and the deaths were accidental. 

“This is an absolute tragedy for the couple’s daughters here today, Clare and Pearl, their husbands and their children. There aren’t words to express the absolute tragic nature of what happened to Mr and Mrs Mahon, a young couple enjoying the early fruits of grandparenthood and a very full and fulfilling life in Swinford.

“To lose one parent is a tragedy but to lose two is an unadulterated tragedy. Unfortunately, it happened and it was an accident, it appears. We have some evidence of where the fire was started but for whatever reason, both were unaware a fire had started and it was unstoppable. I don’t know were there fire alarms and even if there were, would it have made any difference?” 

The coroner offered his sincerest sympathy to the family and extended family, their relatives and friends and also to their many loyal customers in Swinford, adding: “They gave a great service over the years and were a great community couple and will be sadly missed.” 

Sgt Noel Crinnegan, on behalf of An Garda Síochána, said he would also like to offer sincere sympathies to the Mahon family.

The family's solicitor Brendan Donnelly extended thanks to the gardaí, the fire service and the people of Swinford.