A mother-of-four died in a ferocious blaze at her £1.2 million home despite her estranged husband's desperate attempt to rescue her by climbing a drainpipe, an inquest has heard.
Kate Mulcahy, 37, was sleeping alone in the attic bedroom of the newly-built home in Middleton, Greater Manchester, when the fire broke out in the early hours of March 10, 2024. Her husband, John Mulcahy, and their four children were asleep on the first floor.
Mr. Mulcahy, a bricklayer, evacuated the children, aged one to nine, after the home's 10 fire alarms sounded. He then climbed a drainpipe to the roof of the property, broke a Velux window and roof tiles in an effort to reach his wife, but was driven back by intense heat and flames. Neighbors also attempted to enter the house but were repelled by the fire.
At the inquest in Rochdale, coroner Michael Salt described the death of Ms. Mulcahy, a project manager, as “sad and tragic.” The court was told that there were no suspicious circumstances and the tragedy may have been caused by the careless use of smoking materials.
The inquest heard that Ms. Mulcahy had been out with friends on the day of her death. Toxicology reports indicated she had consumed alcohol and low levels of amphetamines and cannabis, though she was below drink-driving limits. Home office pathologist Dr. Jamie Robinson suggested that the drugs might have affected her ability to escape quickly. Dr. Robinson stated that significant damage was found on her body, with soot in her airways and lungs, and that she was likely rendered unconscious rapidly by fire fumes, which, along with burns, were the probable cause of death.
Forensic scientist Martin Crookes believed a “flashover” in the attic room likely ignited everything. He noted that Ms. Mulcahy was known to smoke and use cannabis and stated, “I cannot exclude the potential that careless use of smoking material was the cause of this fire.” Other potential causes, such as an open flame or electrical failure, could not be determined due to the intensity of the blaze.
Neighbour Tim Ainsworth recalled Mr. Mulcahy arriving at his door naked at 4:17 a.m. with the children. Mr. Ainsworth described Mr. Mulcahy as being in “complete terror” and heard him screaming Ms. Mulcahy's name from the roof. Mr. Ainsworth added that when Mr. Mulcahy descended from the roof, his hair was singed and his forehead was smudged with soot.
The inquest heard that the first of the home's ten smoke alarms activated at 3:51 a.m. Coroner Mr. Salt concluded that Ms. Mulcahy died an accidental death in what he described as a “ferocious” blaze. He noted that the precise cause of the fire remained unascertained due to the intensity of the fire and a “flashover” phenomenon that hampered investigations. Mr. Salt offered his condolences to the family, especially the children.