Mum, 83, and daughter left homeless after blaze in Kilkenny home: 'The insurance recently lapsed'
Maisie Roche from the village The Rower was lucky to escape with her life last Sunday
An 83-year-old mother and daughter have been left homeless following a fire in their home in Kilkenny just days before Christmas.
Maisie Roche from the village The Rower was lucky to escape with her life last Sunday when a blaze broke out at her home.
Their friend John Cottrell explained that at around 1pm Maisie noticed thick smoke coming from upstairs and got out of the house. Her daughter Mary was not in the house at the time.
Mr Cottrell continued: “Her family who live near saw smoke coming from the roof and ran to the house where they found Maisie in the front yard.
READ MORE: Murder probe set to be launched after woman 'beaten to death' in home
READ MORE: Kyran Durnin murder suspect was 'worried he'd never see his kids again' - as more arrests expected
“They got the dogs out of the house to safety but were unable to retrieve any belongings due to the smoke. In a matter of minutes the house was ablaze.”
Both Maisie and Mary, a teacher at Waterford College of Further Education, are now homeless and left with little but the clothes on their backs. “Unfortunately, the house insurance recently lapsed, and they are now left with few options to rebuild their lives,” Mr Cottrell added.
The local community set-up a fundraising campaign which has raised more than 30,000 in less than four days on gofundme.com.
Mr Cottrell pointed out that donations will help improve the "desperate situation" and give Mary and Maisie "hope in the run up to Christmas”.
Donations can be made on gofundme.com/Help Roche family after losing their home in a fire.
Mary O’Keeffe is a niece and cousin of the two women speaking on KCLRFM said: “A fire just started in the house, we don’t know how or why. My aunt Maisie was in the house on her own and she heard slates falling from the roof and she managed to escape.
“The house is gone and (Maisie and Mary) are left with nothing. It was hugely traumatic for my aunt and she is recovering in hospital at the moment. They are still trying to come to terms with what has happened. They are in total shock.
“(We) are so grateful to the fire brigade who were there on the scene first. The fundraiser has really taken off. From far and wide people have been donating. The time of the year is not lost on anybody and it’s a hammer blow of reality. They are crawling to the end of 2024”.
Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Related
Share this page
Guest Posts by Easy Branches
