Inquests open into deaths of mother and daughter after Lidgate explosion

Inquests have been formally opened into the deaths of a mother and daughter following an explosion at their home in Lidgate.

The bodies of reclusive couple seventy-eight-year-old Pamela Tierney, and Julie Tierney, 50, were discovered by fire crews after they were called to their bungalow in The Street, on May 7 this year following a series of explosions.

On Friday, inquests were opened into the deaths of both women by Suffolk area coroner, Jacqueline Devonish, at Suffolk Coroner’s Court in Ipswich.

The hearing was told that the bodies of the two women were found by firefighters in a rear bedroom and both were declared dead at the scene.

Identification which took place two weeks had to rely on the use of dental records. The hearing heard post mortem examinations of the two women showed Pamela Tierney died as a result of natural causes while Julie Tierney died from inhalation of fumes.

A full inquest will be held in February.

The cause of the fire was believed to be a gas explosion but engineers from gas network operator Cadent who were called as a precaution said the house was not connected to the mains network.