AN ELDERLY woman died in a fire at her home in Co Clare yesterday despite efforts by neighbours to rescue her.
The blaze was reported shortly after 8am at a cottage at Woodcock Hill, Meelick in the east of the county.
The body of the woman in her 70s, named locally as Nellie Moloney, was recovered from the house by firemen at about 9am after the fire had been brought under control.
The victim’s son, who was also in the house at the time, escaped uninjured. A neighbour who tried to rescue the woman was beaten back by the intense heat and flames. He also escaped injury.
Two units of the fire brigade from Shannon town arrived at the scene at about 8.30am and firefighters later discovered the woman’s body.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene and her body was removed to the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick, where a postmortem examination was held yesterday afternoon. Details of the autopsy have not been released by gardaí.
The roof of the cottage collapsed in the fire leaving just a bare shell and two chimney stacks.
Local councillor Cathal Crowe (FF) said: “This is a terrible tragedy for the community and the thoughts of the entire community are with the family at this time.
“The valiant efforts of neighbours and fire crews have to be acknowledged. Everything that could be done to save the victim was done. The family has been living in the area for generations and all we can do now is offer our sympathies and support to the family at this time.”
Gardaí at Mayorstone are investigating the cause of the fire. It is believed the fire was accidental and may have been caused by an electrical fault.
A technical examination of the scene was carried out yesterday by Garda forensic experts.
Last March, in separate incidents in the space of a week, two elderly first cousins died following fires at their homes in Co Clare.