Gardaí praised for saving pair from house fire

Man and woman pulled from blaze

TWO gardaí have been praised for their “immense bravery” after rescuing a man in his 70s and a young woman from a housefire in Dublin. The large fire broke out at a house in the De Vesci Terrace area of Monkstown in south Dublin in the early afternoon recently.

Garda Dean Gahan and Garda Steven Carton, both based in Dun Laoghaire, arrived shortly after to find the house in flames, with thick smoke emanating from the property. They became aware of a person in the basement and forced open a hall door to enter the building and move the woman, aged in her 20s, to safety. They then went back inside to search for others, before locating the man in his 70s at the back of the house and brought him to safety. He was brought to St Vincent’s University Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation, and is expected to make a full recovery.

Gardai say the occupants of neighbouring properties were also moved to safety as a precaution. The fire caused “extensive” structural damage to the property, before it was brought under control by three units of the Dublin Fire Brigade.

Garda Chief Superintendent Matthew Nyland praised the two gardaí, saying it was “extremely fortunate” that no one was seriously injured or lost their life.

“I have no doubt that this is primarily a result of the quick thinking and actions of all first responders, particularly Garda Dean Gahan and Garda Steven Carton”, he said.

He added: “Gardai Gahan and Carton showed immense bravery entering a very dangerous situation and putting fears for their own personal safety aside to assist others.”

Gardai said that it appears early investigations show the cause of the fire may have been accidental, and that foul play is not suspected at this time.