*Moy GAA representatives providing a guard of honour for Joe Vaughan. Photograph: Mrs Red Head Photography
NO FOUL play has been suspected in the death of Honorary Life President of Moy GAA and retired school teacher, Joe Vaughan (75).
Joe had by some ‘miracle’ overcome a battle with Leukaemia years before dying in a house fire near Lahinch in August of last year, an inquest has heard.
At the Clare Coroner’s Court, County Coroner, Isobel O’Dea found that the cause of Joe Vaughan’s death was the combined effects of burns and inhalation consistent with being in a house fire.
Ms O’Dea said that the post mortem recorded that death was caused by carbon monoxide poisoning as a result of a house fire
A non-smoker and single, Mr Vaughan died in the house fire at the family home at Moymore close to Lahinch on August 27th last.
Ms O’Dea told the inquest in Kilrush that “unfortunately we don’t have any real indications as to what caused the fire because the house was so badly damaged”.
She said, “From what the Gardaí say, there is no suspicion of any foul play and no suspicion of any injuries consistent with foul play. We are satisfied there is no third-party involvement or anything like that”.
Ms O’Dea said that by the time emergency services arrived at the scene at around 4am “unfortunately nothing could be done as Joe was gone at that stage”.
Mr Vaughan had only returned to living at the four bedroomed detached bungalow in late 2024 after decades teaching at Coláiste Dhúlaigh in Coolock, Dublin and he was involved in coaching at West Finglas Boxing Club which he founded.
In the immediate aftermath of the fire at the home of Mr Vaughan at 3.30am on August 27th the scene was declared a crime scene and the scene was preserved.
Mr Vaughan was declared dead at 5.08am at the scene.
In his report read out at the inquest, Det Garda Brian Barry of the Ballistics and Forensic Investigations Section at the Garda Technical Bureau determined that the seat of the fire or the location where the fire originated was Mr Vaughan’s bedroom.
He said that resulting from his technical examination of the scene and the burn patterns, he was satisfied that the seat of fire was located in the front bedroom and the fire spread to the roof structure, living room and the rest of the house.
Det Barry said that due to the extensive damage caused by the fire, “I am unable to establish the exact cause of the fire”.
Neighbour Thomas Garrihy raised the alarm at around 3.30am on August 27th after seeing that a fire at the Vaughan home was already well developed.
In his deposition, Mark Clancy of the Ennistymon Fire Service said that after gaining entry to the home through a rear window he found the body of the deceased lying on the floor near the doorway in a bedroom.
Mr Clancy said that the body was severely burned and partially covered by debris from collapsed internal walls and ceilings.
Mr Vaughan’s body was later identified through DNA samples.
Mr Vaughan’s brother, Michael was the last person to see him alive after calling to his brother for a chat on the night of August 26th.
Michael Vaughan said that “more often than not I was listening to Joe reminisce about his time in Dublin. I rarely ever got to say much”.
He said, “Joe was in great form that evening. We had planned to go for breakfast at 11am the following morning at the Atlantic and I was to pick him up”.
He said, “The house at Moymore was the old family home where we grew up. Joe had been back living at home since before Christmas 2024 and he was living alone. He had been living in the house and had returned from Dublin where he taught for 40 years, most of his time was spent at Coláiste Dhúlaigh where he taught until retirement”.
Michael Vaughan said that Joe “would have had Leukaemia years ago which he overcame and which was a miracle at the time”.
He said that Joe was okay to drive short journeys and most days he would drive to Inagh and Lahinch to buy The Irish Independent and Irish Daily Star newspapers.
He said that Joe would stay up late at night watching boxing on the Internet.
He said that Joe didn’t smoke and had no fire lit on the night there on August 26th 2025.
He said, “I am not aware of Joe having a dispute or falling out with anyone. I would say myself and Joe had a good brotherly relationship and confided in each other to a certain extent”.
Ms O’Dea told family and friends of Joe Vaughan that she hoped the inquest “will bring a little bit of closure for you”.
At the conclusion of the inquest, a sister of Mr Vaughan, Mary Browne thanked everyone who came to offer assistance on August 27th last. She said, “Everyone did their best, we appreciate that”.
