A CORONER yesterday warned of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning from faulty heating systems, particularly in older houses, after an inquest heard how a Valentia Island man died from acute carbon monoxide poisoning related to an oil-fired range, an inquest has heard.
Frank Murphy (67), who lived in one of the historic cable station houses at Knightstown, Valentia, had not been seen for two days. Local shopkeeper Mary Reidy became concerned and alerted relatives. When Mr Murphy’s brother-in-law Michael Egan entered the house on April 24th he got a strong “oily smell”, he told the inquest. He found Mr Murphy lying diagonally across his bed.
Gardaí who visited the scene also reported the strong smell of fumes, which appeared to come from an oil range or an oil tank.
Ms Reidy told the inquest she saw Mr Murphy on April 22nd and had left groceries he ordered on his kitchen table. She said she had experienced a smell of dirty oil on previous visits, including on Wednesday 21st, and had pointed it out to Mr Murphy. He said he had attended to it.
Assistant State pathologist Dr Margot Bolster, who carried out a postmortem, found the cause of death to be acute carbon monoxide poisoning due to the inhalation of fumes from an oil range.
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.