A 24 year old woman with Down's syndrome died in a fire at her family home in Finglas, Dublin, last night. Her parents, both in their sixties, suffered smoke inhalation in the blaze at 17 Dunsink Green, off St Helena's Road.
The family was named locally as Mr Thomas, Mrs Sadie and Ms Shirley Russell.
Mrs Russell was in a serious condition in the James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown, early this morning, while her husband was said to be in a stable condition in the same hospital. Their daughter, Shirley, was dead on arrival at the Mater Hospital, according to a spokesman for Dublin Fire Brigade.
The fire broke out in the main bedroom of the two storey house at about 11 p.m. Mrs Russell and her daughter were in the room at the time. The blaze was confined to the main bedroom, but there was extensive smoke damage to the upper floor.
Mr Russell, who was in the downstairs living room, raised the alarm. According to neighbours, he helped to carry his daughter from the house.
Two units of Dublin Fire Brigade and two ambulances were called to the scene.