“Because of high ‘green’ energy prices, they had to choose between eating or heating,” says reader. Argiris Diamantis.
It is believed freezing conditions over the past few days triggered the couple’s deaths, as there were signs electric heaters in the home had not been switched on in recent days.
Preliminary autopsies indicated that hypothermia was a contributory factor in the deaths. The autopsies also suggested the pair had eaten little food in recent days but had consumed large quantities of alcohol.
Dublin City Council last night refused to comment on the findings of the autopsies.
The local authority was heavily criticised in the past following the death of Rachel Peavoy, 30, who died from hypothermia at her flat in Ballymun on Jan 11, 2010.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/cold-snap-blamed-for-dublin-flat-deaths-219699.html
Thanks to Argiris Diamantis for this link
13 Responses to Ireland – Two die of hypothermia in their Dublin flat
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The weather in Ireland over the past week has not been especially cold. Temperatures are only a degree or two below average. We had a lot of rain in Belfast today. The hills around the city rise to just over 1500 feet but no snow has been reported and tonight temperatures are expected to stay above freezing point.
Heavy snowfall expected in Ireland tomorrow even on low ground. Forecast amounts 10cm-25cm.
heating prices have risen considerably over the past few years … a situation made worse by the ‘green pricing’ that is nothing more than a tax under a different banner. At a time when so many economies are struggling this tax needs to be cancelled, today would be a good day to do so.
Mr. Diamantis’ comment has no source in the article.
The article points at two ill elderly people drinking themselves to death, with hypothermia as a contributing factor.
There is no mention of any financial problems (they were living in a retirement community) or hunger….
Just too much booze ….
Infuriating!
come on folks, alcohol was the choice here.Age 30, retired?
You are misreading the story, sir. The 30 year old that died was not retired, she froze to death in 2010 because she could not heat her flat – I remember that she tried to save her children by sending them away to friends, but did not leave the flat herself.
The two older people who just died were in their late 60s and yes, they died of hypothermia probably aided by alcohol consumption. These issues of cost of heat and keeping warm are coming to the US shores – one of the EPAs newest announcements concerned limiting use of woodburning stoves and raising the cost of new stoves so high no one can afford them. Can’t let those particles get into the air you know.
DO I remember correctly that wood burning stoves are pretty much outlawed in Ireland and environs?
This is exactly the problem confronting everyone on low income or benefits. Just one paraffin heater consumes four litres of paraffin per day. That can cost seven or eight pounds per day. Electric heating is even more expensive and certainly out of the question. That is a huge bite out of the income of those living on low income and benefits. Thus I am not surprised to hear that the heaters were not turned on. I myself cannot turn the heaters on for the same reason. When winter arrives I just dress up in winter clothes and hope that the weather will warm up sooner rather than later.
PEOPLE ALL TOO OFTEN THINK THAT HYPOTHERIA BEGINS AT ZERO CENTIGRADE. ACTUALLY HYPOTHERMIA STARTS AT FIFTEEN DEGREES ABOVE ZERO.
Well weather taking turn for the worst here in Ireland one forecaster saying 70 percent of country will have snowcover by monday and met eireann have a warning out for severe temp by next week unusual for them to do that
I wonder if they were binge drinking. Years ago, I had to go to the emergency room in Connecticut because I nearly cut my thumb off on a clamshell. There was a woman in the next room. I overheard her tell the staff that she had been drinking heavily for 5 days and had not eaten a thing because she was too busy drinking. I wonder if this situation is similar.
Hi all. Serious though it may be, I dont expect the issue of Binge Drinking to appear on a Climate website. However, back to Today (Fri 18 Jan) most buses are cancelled and we have a Red Alert weather warning for Cardiff/Glamorgan/Brecon area. Temperatures dropping and no sign of respite in weather. Large band of snow stretching up to Belfast blamed on a sudden Stratospheric Warming! ! !
I wonder if Robert has any thoughts on this, perhaps writing another article on the UK’s weather where for the 1st 2 Sundays in January I ate lunch in the pub’s beer garden!
Meantime, I wish right now I was in Australia:- record +46 Sydney LOL. Keep safe!
Finally, it is snowing in Belfast – the first we’ve seen here for 25 months! Most of our snow tends to occur when the temperature is around 0C as it is tonight. A slow thaw on low ground is expected tomorrow with temperatures rising to around 2C.