Elderly Irish couple who died in blaze became grandparents hours before tragedy

The couple was celebrating the birth of their young granddaughter in Doha

NT Bureau

DOHA: An elderly Irish couple who died in a house fire in Cork city In Ireland had become first time grandparents just hours before their passing, Irish media have reported.

Their young granddaughter was born in Doha on Thursday so unfortunately the pair didn’t live long enough to see her in person. Their son and daughter-in-law live in Qatar, Irish Mirror reported.

The man, who was in his eighties and the woman who was in her seventies, died after a fire broke out in their home shortly after 11pm on Thursday. The couple had heard the happy news of the birth of their granddaughter just a few hours before their death.

 “Residents were saying to me that they were sitting down and having a cup of tea (with the couple) last night. A cup of tea and a cake celebrating the birth of their first grandchild — a little girl,” Councillor of the area Joe Kavanagh was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

“It happened so quickly. It is a tight knit community here and they are all rocked by it. They can’t even talk. The couple have lived here all their lives. Their son is grown up in his forties. He is a long haul flight Captain and Pilot and flies Qatar Airways. He is getting a flight home out of Doha as we speak,” Kavanagh said.

“They (had twelve hours) as grandparents and twelve hours later they were dead. All this in the space of twelve hours.”

According to the report, neighbours were evacuated from their homes for several hours as a precautionary measure after the blaze broke out.

Second Officer with Cork City Fire Brigade, Victor Shine, said they received multiple calls about the blaze at 11.15pm on Thursday.

“The crews responded and were there very quickly. But at that stage flames were coming out through the windows at the front of the building and through the roof as well. It (the fire) was substantially established inside the building at that stage.

“An intensive search was carried out and the two casualties were located close together. It was after one o clock this morning the casualties were identified in the building. Our sympathies go out to the family.”

Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Ken O’Flynn. said that he was “deeply saddened” to hear about the death of the pensioners.

“My heart goes out to all those affected by this devastating incident. Please accept my deepest sympathies during this difficult time.