The danger of overloading sockets with double adaptors and appliances has been highlighted by a coroner after an inquest heard how an elderly woman died in a house fire caused by the overloading of a kitchen socket.
Cork City Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane issued the warning after returning a verdict of accidental death at the inquest of Molly O'Donoghue (79) who died in a fire at her terraced house at Harbour View, Knocknaheeny, on May 31st.
Det Garda Regina Donnelly told the inquest how she carried out a technical examination of the badly burned house and found that the fire began in an alcove in the kitchen where a socket was overloaded with three double adaptors.
The kitchen was badly burned, but it was impossible to say whether two fridges and a cooker or two cookers and a fridge were plugged into adaptors.
The socket had been fixed on to a wooden board in the alcove, Det Garda Donnelly said.
Mrs O'Donoghue's home help, Kathleen Dunne, told how she left her at 7pm that evening but at about 9.55pm, she got a phone call from her, saying that the house was on fire. She told Mrs O'Donoghue to get out immediately.
Ms Dunne raced across to Mrs O'Donoghue's house where neighbours were trying to break down the front door, but they could not get into the building because of the black smoke that was billowing out the hallway, while flames were coming out of the kitchen.
Adrian Spillett of Cork city fire brigade said when they arrived at the scene at 10.08pm, they found the fire was well established. They sent two fire-fighting teams into the house with breathing apparatus, who found a badly burned body just inside the back door.
Sgt David Foley said that Mrs O'Donoghue's body was badly burned but they were satisfied that it was her.
"We believe Mrs O'Donoghue managed to open the back door but was overcome by smoke. It was just unfortunate - she almost made it out," he said.
Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster carried out a post-mortem and concluded that Mrs O'Donoghue died from burns due to a house fire in association with inhalation of carbon monoxide, and with a contributory effect of ischaemic heart disease.
