Nurses at a Cork hospital were in shock yesterday following the death of one of their colleagues who died after being engulfed in flames at her uncle's house.
Ms Maeve O'Shea (25) suffered fatal injuries when her hair and night-clothes were set alight while she tried to light a cigarette from a gas cooker. Ms O'Shea, who worked at Cork University Hospital's intensive therapy unit, was taken by ambulance to her workplace.
She was staying the night at her uncle's house on New Street, Newmarket, Co Cork, as part of her Christmas celebrations when she decided to go downstairs for a cigarette.
The nurse went in to the kitchen of the house at 3.15 a.m. yesterday and lit a cigarette from a gas cooker. She bent down and her long hair and nightdress caught fire within seconds. Two local doctors provided medical treatment for burns at the scene and the woman was taken by ambulance to hospital where she died of her injuries at 6 a.m.
Ms O'Shea recently qualified as a nurse in England and had moved back to Cork to work. Her parents died twelve years ago and she and her two older brothers went to live with their uncle, Mr Arthur O'Shea. Mr O'Shea and his wife Kathleen were being comforted at their home by friends and relatives yesterday. Cork Fine Gael TD, Mr Gerard Murphy, who lives down the street from the O'Sheas, said the local community was stunned.
He said Maeve came from "an exceptionally well-liked family". "I would be offering my sympathy on behalf of everyone in the town. She and her two older brothers were reared by the O'Sheas after their parents died of cancer. We are all stunned over this."
Local parish priest, Father Michael Corkery, visited the O'Sheas yesterday to offer his condolences. He said it was hard to make sense of the death of a woman who contributed so much to society.
"It was a freak accident. They are mystified as to how it happened. She screamed and they tried to put the fire out but they couldn't.
"You are trying to make sense of it. The family are in shock. No words can explain the pain they are suffering. Hopefully out of shock will come prayer and the help of God." Gardaí were attempting to contact the dead woman's boyfriend in Britain yesterday.
Meanwhile, the deputy general manager of the Cork University Hospital group, Mr Gerry O'Dwyer, said staff were upset following the tragedy.
"Maeve joined the intensive therapy unit three months ago and was a valued member of our nursing staff. She will be sadly missed by her colleagues and management alike."