Fire death was second tragedy to hit Athboy house

The St Patrick's Day tragedy in Athboy which resulted in the loss of local man Kieran Healy's life in a house fire was the second such incident to hit the family. Mr Healy's then partner, Anna Masterson, died two weeks after falling into a fireplace at the same house in 1994. Ms Masterson, who had lived with Mr Healy at Connaught Street for two years, fell into the fire after an epileptic fit on 22nd October 1994. She passed away at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, on 12th November of that year, as a result of the burns sustained in that incident, a subsequent inquest held in Navan heard. Ms Masterson was a mother of two young children. She had previously lived at St Angus Grove in Tallaght, with her husband and children. Kieran Healy told the inquest that he had gone to work at 8am that day, and was later told of the accident by his brother, Nicholas. He visited Ms Masterson in hospital, and she told him she had taken the fit while standing with her back to the fire. She was in a lot of pain. He continued visiting her daily until her death three weeks later. The pathologist who carried out the post mortem, Dr Brian Farrell, said it was known that the deceased was an epilectic. Mr Healy's funeral took place in Athboy on Wednesday of last week. Deceased, who would have celebrated his 48th birthday on Sunday 21st March, worked as a lorry driver. He had also worked at horses with trainers Clem Magnier, Michael Cunningham and Tony Martin. Gardai in Athboy are treating as accidental the fire which claimed the life of Mr Healy at his home in Connaught Street. The fire was discovered by Gardai from Athboy when passers-by observed flames and smoke coming from the house on Connaught Street just after 11.30pm on Wednesday 17th March. Two units of Meath County Council's Fire and Rescue Service responded to the incident. One house was destroyed in the blaze and damage was caused to two adjoining houses. Mr Healy was son of the late Nicholas and Mary Healy, and is survived by his brother, Nicholas, who lived with him but was not at home at the time of the fire; and sister, Mary, who returned from Canada for the funeral; aunts, cousins, nephews, nieces and other relatives.