The cause of a fire which killed three members of a farming family in Co Kerry on the morning of the All-Ireland football final in September 2002 was accidental, the inquest into their deaths heard yesterday in Tralee.
Ms Mary Daly (57), her husband, Mr John Daly (66), and their son, Mr Shane Daly (24), died in the fire at their two-storey farmhouse at Annagh, Castlemaine, on September 23rd, 2002.
Gardaí arrived on the scene at 9.15 a.m. to find the house in "an advanced stage of burning", said Garda James Murphy, a scenes of crime examiner. He was satisfied the fire was accidental.
The body of Mr Shane Daly was found in the back kitchen of the house, while those of his parents were found in an upstairs bedroom.
All bodies were extensively charred, and there were large volumes of soot in their trachea, said Dr Margot Bolster, assistant State pathologist.
The body of Mr Shane Daly revealed a blood ethanol level of 216mg, and a urine ethanol level of 239mg.
Cause of death in each case was carbon-monoxide poisoning due to smoke inhalation. In each case levels were above the 50 per cent fatal saturation level.
The coroner, Ms Helen Lucey, said identification would have been very difficult and next to impossible because of the extensive nature of the burning. She thanked the daughter of Mary and John Daly, Ms Margaret Carmel Daly, for her courage in coming forward to testify on dental matters.
Ms Lucey recommended a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence. The jury agreed.
Ms Lucey noted gardaí were satisfied the fire was accidental. Garda Supt Pat O'Sullivan, Mr Danny Leane on behalf of the jury, and Ms Lucey sympathised with the remaining members of the Daly family, Mr James Daly, Ms Margaret Daly and Ms Marie Daly, all in their 20s and who attended the inquest.
The Daly family spokesman, Mr Liam Crowley, solicitor, thanked gardaí, the emergency services and medical personnel, the jury and the court, and above all the friends and neighbours of his clients for their support, good wishes "and Christian endeavour".
"To lose one's house is appalling, but to lose one's parents and brother in the same incident; words fail us," he said.
However, life had to continue and the Daly children were in the process of having a new house built adjacent to the old one.