[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15032614

A man who burned to death in his home died as a result of spontaneous combustion, an Irish coroner has ruled.

It is believed to be the first case of its kind in Ireland.

West Galway coroner Dr Ciaran McLoughlin said it was the first time in 25 years of investigating deaths that he had returned such a verdict.

Michael Faherty, 76, died at his home at Clareview Park, Ballybane, Galway on 22 December 2010.

An inquest in Galway on Thursday heard how investigators had been baffled as to the cause of death.

Forensic experts found a fire in the fireplace of the sitting room where the badly burnt body was found had not been the cause of the blaze that killed Mr Faherty.

The court was told that no trace of an accelerant had been found and there had been nothing to suggest foul play.

The court heard Mr Faherty had been found lying on his back with his head closest to an open fireplace.

The fire had been confined to the sitting room. The only damage was to the body, which was totally burnt, the ceiling above him and the floor underneath him.

Dr McLoughlin said he had consulted medical textbooks and carried out other research in an attempt to find an explanation.

He said Professor Bernard Knight, in his book on forensic pathology, had written about spontaneous combustion and noted that such reported cases were almost always near an open fireplace or chimney.

"This fire was thoroughly investigated and I'm left with the conclusion that this fits into the category of spontaneous human combustion, for which there is no adequate explanation," he said.

Strange but (possibly) true .....

[Niamh.]

It happened last December? Weird that I never heard anything about it you would think something like that would be big news

[Ramsay]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

It happened last December? Weird that I never heard anything about it you would think something like that would be big news

Hmmm yeah i never heard of it either and i live only an hour or two from galway

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Karl

Hmmm yeah i never heard of it either and i live only an hour or two from galway

lmao, surely someone spontaneously combusting would be big news, would make a change from tuning in and hearing which politicians been screwing us over today anyhow!

[Omah]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...to-flames.html

Neighbour Tom Mannion had alerted the authorities after his fire alarm went off at around 3am on December 22.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Gerry O'Malley gave evidence that two experienced officers were of the opinion the blaze had not spread from the hearth.

He told Dr McLoughlin they could not determine the cause of the killer fire.

Pathologist Grace Callagy said Mr Faherty, who suffered from diabetes and hypertension, had last been seen two to three days before his remains were found.

She said the body had been completely cremated and it had not been possible to determine the cause of death because of the extent of damage to the organs.

[Marc]

I'm sorry but that makes no sense what so ever.

[Omah]

Originally Posted by Marc.

I'm sorry but that makes no sense what so ever.

What doesn't ?

[Shasown]

An inquest has found that a man who burnt to death, died from spontaneous human combustion in what is believed to be the first case of its kind in Ireland.

Michael Faherty died in December 2010 leaving few clues as to what the cause of death was. Coroner at the inquest, Dr Kieran McLoughlin, along with the Gardaí and fire service, could find no other explanation for his death.

A fire had been lit in the sitting room fireplace but after a thorough investigation Assistant Chief Fire Officer Gerry O'Malley was satisfied that this did not cause the blaze that lead to the death of Mr Faherty, 76.

Gardaí also examined the scene but found no traces of foul play or forced entry, nor did they identify any form of accelerant. Although some parts of Mr. Faherty's home in Ballybane, Galway City did suffer from smoke damage, the only evidence of fire was on the carpet below the remains and the ceiling above. The body had been totally cremated and because of this it was not possible to determine the cause of death.

Dr McLoughlin said: "This fire was thoroughly investigated and I'm left with the conclusion that this fits into the category of spontaneous human combustion, for which there is no adequate explanation."

http://news.uk.msn.com/uk/irishman-d...man-combustion

Saves on the old burial/cremation decision. And on the cost.

[Omah]

Already posted :

http://www.thisisbigbrother.com/foru...d.php?t=185375

First Irish case of death by spontaneous combustion

[Benjamin]

-waits for the fire jokes-

Imagine just suddenly combusting.