A woman was in such severe pain from burns suffered when her dressing gown caught fire that she asked hospital staff to leave her alone and let her die, the High Court heard yesterday. More than 50 per cent of her body was burned.
Ms Mary Larkin (46), of Lusmagh, Banagher, Co Offaly, told Mr Justice Kearns her pain was so bad she had asked hospital staff why they would not leave her alone and let her die.
She is suing Heatons Ltd, of Athlone, Co Westmeath (where the gown was bought); C.V. Apparel Ltd, alleged to be manufacturer of the dressing gown, with offices at Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire; and Coats Viyella (Insurance) Ltd, with registered offices at Wellington Street, Glasgow. Heatons and C.V. Apparel deny her claims.
Ms Larkin said her mother had bought the dressing gown in Heatons in 1983. It was so long it dragged on the ground.
On January 13th, 1991, she was alone in her sister's house and had "a nice fire" in the sitting room. When a piece of coal fell on to the hearth, she reached for the tongs and the bottom of her dressing gown caught fire.
She said she had laughed and thought she could stamp the fire out, but it spread. She tried to open the belt and pulled at the buttons but all the time the flames were coming up along the garment. She ran to the bathroom, turned on the cold water and got into the bath. The flames came almost to her shoulders.
Ms Larkin said she was brought to hospital in Ballinasloe, where she was kept for nine days before she could be brought to the burns unit at St James's Hospital, Dublin.
She came back to her sister's home the following May. She did not go anywhere and was not able to do anything. "I could say I lost 3-1/2 years out of my life."
Mr Harry Whelehan SC, for Ms Larkin, said their case would be that the dressing gown was made of fast-burning material.
He said the manufacturers should have been aware that the fabric used in Ms Larkin's dressing gown had failed 1984 British standards.
The hearing continues today.