DPP directs no prosecution in Carrickmines halting site fire, Coroner’s Court hears
No criminal charges will be brought in relation to the deaths of 10 victims of a fire at a Carrickmines halting site.
Five adults and five children died following the fire in the early hours of October 10, 2015. The 10 victims of the blaze died due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
The Director of Public Prosecutions made her decision following the submission of a case file on the tragic blaze by An Garda Siochana.
There were no family members of the victims present at Dublin Coroner’s Court as Detective Inspector Martin Creighton informed the coroner of the DPP’s decision.
The full inquest into the deaths will be heard before a jury over a two-week period early next year.
Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane issued provisional dates for the inquest hearing to take place in January.
The coroner’s office will now work with Dun Laoghaire County Council, Gardaí and Dublin Fire Brigade to draw up a list of witnesses to give evidence.
The victims were Thomas Connors (aged 27) his wife Sylvia (aged 30) and their children Jim, five, Christy, three, and six-month-old Mary. Willie Lynch (aged 25) and his partner Tara Gilbert (aged 27) who was pregnant, and their daughters Jodie, aged nine, and Kelsey, age four also perished. Jimmy Lynch (aged 39) a brother of Willy, also died in the blaze.
The victims were residents of Glenamuck Halting site in Carrickmines, Dublin 24.
The five adults and four of the children were identified using DNA evidence with the assistance of Dr Alan Magee.
Six-month-old baby Mary Connors was formally identified by her relative, Dan Connors at the children's accident and emergency department at Tallaght Hospital in Dublin 24.
The 10 post-mortem examinations were carried out by State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy and Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster.
The cause of death returned for all 10 victims of the blaze was acute carbon monoxide poisoning due to smoke inhalation due to a fire.
A legal representative for Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council was represented at the short inquest hearing.
The DPP’s office had issued a number of queries to Gardaí based on the file submitted and consideration of the issue continued for a number of months.
Det. Insp. Creighton told the court the DPP’s decision had been received and circulated to all parties.
“I am now in a position to hear the inquest which will take place over a number of days before a jury,” Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane said.
The coroner adjourned the inquest and issued a provisional start date for the full inquest to begin on January 14, 2019.
