A MAN who died in a fire at an oil yard in Co Louth was identified by a ring he had received from his mother and from dental records, an inquest in Dundalk heard yesterday.
Stephen Mines (24), from Glassdrummond Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, died in a blaze at Michael Quigley’s oil yard in Hackballscross last December.
A postmortem by State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy concluded the victim died as a result of blast injury to the lungs due to an oil tank fire.
Garda Michael Fallon told the inquest he had been shown the scene of the blaze on December 17th last by Mr Quigley, who told him that Mr Mines was believed to have been working in the area but was now unaccounted for.
The dead man’s father, Kevin Mines, told the inquest he had received a phone call on the morning of the tragedy from Mr Quigley, who told him there had been a fire and his son was missing.
He went to the yard where there were a lot of firemen and gardaí at the scene. After returning home he later got a call informing him that remains had been found.
He said Garda Fallon had shown him a ring retrieved from the scene. It was a gold ring with a small black stone which he recognised as belonging to his son, which had been given to him by his mother.
Garda Fallon told the inquest the remains had also been identified through dental records.
The inquest was adjourned for six months to allow further time to the Health and Safety Authority to conclude its investigations.
Coroner Ronan Maguire expressed his sympathy to Mr Mines and the rest of his family, noting that it must have been very difficult to lose someone so close in such circumstances. Insp Leo McGinn also expressed his sympathy and the sympathy of the Garda to the bereaved family.