The Offaly County Coroner has expressed concern that evidence has not emerged at an inquest today to explain who gave a 78-year-old man matches or a lighter before his clothes went on fire in a private nursing home.
Roderick Quinn, of Ballydaly, Ferbane in Co Offaly, died from shock after receiving severe burns at the Gallen Priory Nursing Home in Ferbane in July of last year.
At an inquest in Tullamore today his niece said that, although her uncle smoked and was receiving cigarettes from the nurses in the home, she presumed that he was given assistance to light the cigarettes by the staff and was supervised in the smoking room.
Coroner Brian Mahon said that the practice of giving a lighter or matches to a patient in these circumstances was one that should not happen.
He heard Mr Quinn - known to the staff as 'Roadey' - had a bad shake in his hand but was an independent man who smoked three or four cigarettes every day.
On the morning of 12 July last year nursing staff found Mr Quinn 'on fire' in the smoking room. He suffered burns to 50% of his body and died the next day in Tullamore General Hospital.
