A MOTHER and father’s desperate attempts to save their three-year-old daughter as toxic smoke poured through the house were revealed for the first time at an inquest yesterday.
Lillie’Mai Quinn died in her sleep from smoke inhalation after a small fire in the airing cupboard at their home in Mont Cochon, First Tower, filled their rooms with toxic fumes.
At the inquest it was revealed how her 33-year-old mother, Daphne, woke in a smoke-filled room on the morning of 21 May and phoned her former partner Darren Knight, before trying to find Lillie’Mai.
In a police statement, which was read during the inquest by Pc Michael Fitzgerald, Miss Quinn said: ‘I woke in the early morning. I think I heard a crackling noise. There was smoke and it was very hot. I was disorientated and very confused.’
Miss Quinn said that after phoning 999 she tried to smash a window with a lamp and managed to find Lillie’Mai before collapsing on the floor. Mr Knight then arrived at the flat and bravely tried to get inside the property.
