Elderly woman burned to death in Tyrone
Trillick, 2 January 1915 - The inquest into the death of Ellen McBrien, from Trillick, Co. Tyrone, opened last week.
Witnesses explained that Miss McBrien usually slept very close to the fireplace and that she kept turf beside the fire. It was presumed this is how the fire took hold.
The attempts of neighbours to rescue the woman were thwarted by the collapse of the roof.
Dr A.H.T. Warnock testified that he had suggested Miss McBrien be placed in a Workhouse some months previously but that she had left after one night and had returned home.
The inquiry concluded, based on the medical evidence, that Miss McBrien died from shock caused by extensive burns.
[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]
