Kenneth Hynes has refuted allegations that he ignited the fire, which led to the death of his previous partner, during a hearing at Dublin District Coroner’s Court. Martina Kiely, the accuser, passed away from complications arising from the fire-related injuries she sustained almost four years ago. Prior to her passing, Ms. Kiely insisted to both her family and the police that Mr. Hynes doused her legs in fluid and subsequently ignited a fire in their Shanabooly Road, Limerick residence on August 2, 2019. Her death occurred at St. James’s Hospital, Dublin on December 31, 2020. In spite of these accusations, the inquest uncovered that the exact cause of the fire remains undetermined. Investigations led by Det Sgt Shane Ryan, revealed no evidence of flammable liquid after the Garda’s examination of the fire’s origin was conducted by Forensic Science Ireland. However, while under treatment, Ms. Kiely wrote a message to her loved ones asserting that Kenneth Hynes was responsible for her predicament and remained consistent in her statements. This was confirmed in court by her brother, Noel Kiely, who quoted his late sister’s claims of assault and arson against Mr. Hynes.
In his sworn statement given to the court, Mr Hynes asserted that he was present at Ms Kiely’s residence on the day of the inferno, sharing drinks with her. However, he left her house around 6.30pm to head back to his own home, located approximately 350m away. A neighbour informed him about the conflagration at around 3am.
Firefighters stumbled upon Ms Kiely close to the ignition point of the fire, in her bedroom, in a “curled up” position. When Ms Kiely’s accusation made to her family of Mr Hynes initiating the fire and then departing the house was put to him by the coroner, Aisling Gannon, he denied it. “It’s false”, he said. He added, surprised, “I can’t comprehend that Martina would accuse me in such a way.”
Detective Garda Seán O’Hagan informed the court that he interviewed Ms Kiely at St James’s Hospital about her allegations against Mr Hynes on February 22nd, 2020. He found her accounts of the night’s happenings to be inconsistent and her state of mind to be muddled. He concluded that she was not physically capable of giving a legitimate statement.
O’Hagan also cited that his subsequent attempts for a statement from Ms Kiely were hindered by Covid-19 limitations at the medical facility. He recounted that police had previously visited Kiely’s house in 2014 and 2015, following reports of domestic abuse, but no illegal activity was disclosed.
The review of the investigation by Detective Sergeant Ryan was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, however, no orders were made to indict anyone. Ryan determined through forensic examination that the fire originated in the sealed bedroom. A lighter and a cigarette were found in the room.
The coroner issued a narrative conclusion on the matter. Mr Kiely expressed his family’s preparedness to “accept with dignity” the decision, “although it doesn’t change our understanding and emotions.”