No charges to be brought in hostel fire

The Australian Coroner who was investigating the a fire in an outback hostel which killed 15 people including a Limerick women has ruled today that no charges can be brought against the managers of the premises.

The Coroner ruled that the managers at the time were not so negligent that they should face manslaughter charges.

Earlier this week a leading lawyer working for the inquest said that in his opinion there was insufficient evidence to bring further charges over the fire.

24 year-old Limerick woman Julie O’Keefe was one of the 15 who couldn’t escape the flames and smoke when the hostel she was staying in while backpacking, was set on fire by a homeless man Robert Long back in 2000.

He was sentenced to life in prison in 2002.