01-05-2025
Inquest told of heroic efforts to rescue Dublin garda who died when boat caught fire
Deirdre 'Dee' Finn (53), of Ballinteer, Co Dublin, was a detective in the Dún Laoghaire district
Detective Garda Deirdre Finn was due to retire the following year
An inquest into the death of a detective garda in a boat fire on the Shannon heard of frantic efforts to save her.
Deirdre 'Dee' Finn (53), of Ballinteer, Co Dublin, was a detective in the Dún Laoghaire district and had served over 30 years in An Garda Síochána.
Det Gda Finn had been due to retire the year after her death on August 7, 2023.
Sligo and Leitrim coroner Fergal Kelly, sitting in Carrick-on Shannon courthouse, heard evidence from nine witnesses, including close friends of Det Gda Finn in the boating community and emergency responders and gardaí.
The inquest heard she was a popular member of the boating community and owned her own cruiser called Doll Finn.
On the night before her death, she attended a gala dinner in the Landmark Hotel in Carrick-on-Shannon to mark the end of the Inland Waterways Shannon Boat Rally.
The funeral of Detective Garda Deirdre 'Dee' Finn
In his deposition, Cormac Smyth, from Dublin, said he was woken at about 7.55am on August 7, 2023, by his wife Eibhlín's screams.
Gda Finn Finn's boat was in flames, and Mr Smyth said he immediately ran along the jetty and discharged two full fire extinguishers into the vessel, but it had little effect as the fire had taken hold.
The inquest heard boat owners in the marina discharged up to 20 of their personal fire extinguishers into the stricken vessel before the arrival of the fire service.
Mr Smyth said he and his wife had won first prize in the rally, and the couple hosted a small gathering on their vessel following the gala, as was a tradition in the boating community.
He re-entered the vessel, but was quickly overwhelmed by heat and suffered singe burns to his back
At about 4.15am, Det Gda Finn left the Smyths' boat to go to bed in her cruiser, which was about 40 metres away.
Mr Smyth walked her the short distance and ensured she was on board safely, as is also custom in the boating community.
'I was happy Dee was on the boat. I always see my friends home,' he said.
The inquest also heard harrowing details of efforts by Robbie Garland, a close family friend of Det Gda Finn, to save her.
Struggling to maintain his composure, he detailed multiple attempts by him to access the burning vessel.
Mr Garland was alerted by his son Adam to the fire at about 7.55am.
Although the vessel was largely engulfed in flames, Mr Garland tried to break windows and open the hatch above Det Gda Finn's bed.
'I eventually got the hatch open,' he said, but black smoke billowed out.
He took a deep breath and stretched into the vessel and managed to extract a duvet.
As he was barefoot and dressed in boxer shorts, he used the duvet as protection and again took a deep breath and re-entered the vessel, but was quickly overwhelmed by heat and suffered singe burns to his back.
Detective Garda Deirdre Finn was due to retire the following year
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The inquest heard Ms Smyth screamed at Mr Garland that he had to get off the vessel as she feared it was 'about to blow'.
Adrienne Garland, the wife of Mr Garland, told the inquest she and Ms Finn enjoyed a night of laughter and dancing before her best friend's death.
At 4.18am, Ms Garland sent Ms Finn a picture of them together, and Ms Finn replied at 4.20am.
The inquest heard the friends said they loved each other.
State pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers told the inquest Det Gda Finn died of inhalation of combustible products, including carbon dioxide, and there were no contributory factors to her death.
The inquest heard she was found in bed.
The forensic investigator found it was probable that the flame of the gas-fired fridge ignited the fire
An expert forensic report found the fire was caused by a defective LPG gas pipe supplying the refrigerator on the boat, which caused a gas escape.
The forensic investigator found it was probable that the flame of the gas-fired fridge ignited the fire.
Coroner Mr Kelly returned a narrative verdict that Det Gda Finn died of inhalation of combustible products including carbon dioxide.
Det Gda Deirdre Finn
Extending his sympathies to her family and friends, the coroner said he was moved by the evidence of the close friendship between Det Gda Finn and Ms Garland and praised the 'very heroic and extremely brave' actions of Mr Garland.
He also set out in his verdict a recommendation that Waterways Ireland carry out an information campaign highlighting the dangers of LPG appliances on boats.
Extending his sympathies to Det Gda Finn's family, including her father, Pat Finn, Mr Kelly said he saw a picture of her on and could tell she was a 'really nice person you could have fun and banter with'.
Mr Finn thanked Mr Kelly for his efficiency and compassion.
He also thanked his daughter's garda colleagues for their excellent work investigating her death, and for their empathy.
