AN elderly nun died from smoke inhalation following an arson attack on a primary school in White Friar Street, Dublin, Dublin Coroner's Court heard yesterday.
Sister Theresa Roche, who was originally from Mallow, Co Cork, died by manslaughter on May 2nd, 1995, a jury decided. Members of her family, who were present at the inquest, were told she had not suffered undue pain. She did not sustain burns in the blaze.
Sister Roche (69) was found unconscious in the upstairs corridor of St Enda's National School by members of Dublin Fire Brigade. She was lying outside the office from which she ran a creche for toddlers.
The inquest was told at 3.30 pm on April 28th, 1995, a serious fire broke out in the school. Six units of Dublin Fire Brigade were summoned to fight the blaze, which eventually destroyed the building.
A number of people escaped before the fire took hold, but three women were trapped in the building. Two of these, Ms Bernie Tyrell and Ms Anne Gill, were rescued. Sister Roche was taken to the Meath Hospital and transferred to the Adelaide Hospital, where she died on May 2nd, 1995.
Det Sgt Walter Kilcullen, of Kevin Street Garda Station, told the court that at 3.10 p.m. on the day of the fire a man asked the caretaker at White Friar Street Community Centre for a container. He then went to a nearby garage and filled the container with petrol.
The man then went to the Friendship Club which is located on the ground floor of St Enda's National School. The club is a drop in centre which caters for homeless men from the area and those living in hostels. It provides facilities for reading, watching television and playing snooker.
Det Sgt Kilcullen said the man went to the recreation area in the club and started to spill liquid around the room. There was a loud bang and black smoke was seen coming up through the floor boards. The man was arrested in the early hours of the following morning. Last January, in the Central Criminal Court, he pleaded guilty to starting the fire.
Sister Roche, who lived with her community in Henrietta Street, Dublin, joined the Daughters Of Charity in 1946. She worked for a time in Blackrock and Drogheda before spending 10 years running St Brigid's Hostel in Henrietta Street. She studied social science in England and, on her return, worked in Kilmore West. Ten years ago she took responsibility for the creche and had offices in the building destroyed by the fire.