Young man killed in Killeshandra house fire
A single man in his early 30s lost his life tragically in a fire at his home on Monday of this week at Portaliffe on the outskirts of Killeshandra. John Gumley perished in the kitchen/sitting room area of his home and it is believed that he died as a result of smoke inhalation. There was widespread shock and grief in the area when news spread of his untimely death in such tragic circumstances. Fire brigades from Killeshandra and Ballyconnell attended at the scene shortly before 1pm, after the alarm was raised by a neighbour who observed that the windows had been blacked out from the smoke and fumes. Mr. Gumley had met with some of his friends in Killeshandra the night before and he was in great form. Friends and neighbours described him as a friendly young man who got on well with everyone and loved living in the Killeshandra area. One person said it was "an awful waste of a young life" and family and friends in the Portaliffe estate are shocked and totally numbed by this terrible tragedy. There were some theories that a deep fat fryer may have gone on fire some hours previously and the subsequent fumes and smoke led to Mr Gumley's death. The fire seemed to have centred around the cooking area and damage was also caused to the kitchen units. He was found lying on the floor and it appears that he died from smoke inhalation. A post mortem was due to be carried out on the body yesterday (Tuesday). The Gardaí are not treating it as a suspicious death. The Garda Divisional Scenes of crime unit and local fire officers are carrying out an investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire. Cllr. Maura Maguire Lynch said it was a terrible tragedy for the Killeshandra area. "My heart goes out to his parents Noel and Kathleen, brothers and sisters and the entire family and all the relatives - it is a tragedy for this young man and we are all devastated in Killeshandra." Cllr. Maguire Lynch said John was very house proud and kept his home in pristine condition and just loved the area. He was just after putting a concrete path down to the clothes line.