|
by Kate Heaney
INISHOWEN'S coroner has described spontaneous human
combustion as “probably an urban myth” at the
inquest into the death of a 50 year-old woman in
Carndonagh on December 31, 2010.
Dr John Madden said when he saw the remains of the
late Elizabeth McLaughlin (Loftus) of 42 Clós
Phádraig, Carndonagh, spontaneous human combustion
did come to mind. A scenes of crime garda described
finding the charred remains on the floor of the
sitting room with the damage just confined to the
remains and the immediate vicinity.
The inquest heard from Harry Masterson, partner of
the deceased for the previous 12 years. He had
stayed with her over Christmas and then returned to
his home in Moville on December 30 to collect
medication. Normally the deceased would have rung
him around 7am every morning but that had not
happened and he became concerned and took the bus to
Carndonagh on the morning of December 31 at 9.30 am.
Dr Madden told Friday's inquest: “There was talk of
spontaneous human combustion at the time. I did a
little research and that probably is an urban myth
but when I did see the remains, it did come to mind.
There was little damage to the surrounding area. I
believe the clothes acted like a wick on a candle –
there was the complete destruction of the body but
the fire did not spread." He offered his sympathy to
Mr Masterson, who he said had brought happiness to
the deceased.
Following the inquest Mr Masterson said he believed
Ms McLaughlin, a mother of five, had died as a
result of spontaneous combustion and cited the
recent inquest in Galway which made that finding.
“It seems to me to be spontaneous human combustion
which I know is unusual. It was just terrible. I
would not wish it on anyone,” he said. |
