The father of a Melton South teenager who died in a house fire remains adamant his son’s death was suspicious, despite a coroner’s ruling that the fire was accidental.
State coroner Ian Gray last week found the fire, which killed 18-year-old Daniel Paul Sheehy on March 14, 2012, was most likely caused by a cigarette that was carelessly discarded or not extinguished.
Daniel’s father, Damien Sheehy, told Star Weekly he was not angry with the coroner but “disappointed” with the outcome.
“They couldn’t prove that he had a cigarette; it’s only a presumption that that’s the most likely cause,” Mr Sheehy said.
“I have the greatest respect for Mr Gray. He could only deliver his findings based on the evidence that was on hand.”
“But he had also noted that Daniel had been threatened on [several] occasions by a number of people and that he did have reasons to fear for his safety,” he said.
On the night of the fire, Daniel had feared his home would be invaded by a drug gang.
Mr Sheehy said Daniel had only come home that night because of threats he had received that his father would be bashed.
“He died my hero,” Mr Sheehy said.
He said a lot happened before his son’s death, including his kidnapping three weeks prior.
In an inquest last year, Judge Gray requested that police question five men over Daniel’s death. The men all denied any involvement. As a result, Judge Gray said he could not compel the men to give evidence given that the forensic evidence suggested the fire was not intentionally lit.
“The biggest thing I’m dirty about is the fact that these guys were committed to stand trial in the County Court for the kidnapping of Daniel as well and then the DPP [Director of Public Prosecutions] said the case was too weak for them to get a conviction, so they refused to run it,” Mr Sheehy said.
On the evidence that there were no traces of an accelerant or flammable liquid inside the bedroom, Judge Gray said there was no objective reason to conclude that Daniel’s death was due to foul play.
The inquest was also told Daniel had suffered a leg injury that prevented him from getting up when his father reached out to him.
Mr Sheehy said the coroner still had not determined why Daniel could not get up, and that had left a bitter taste in his mouth.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Mr Sheehy said. “He wasn’t an angel, but he had been threatened.”
Mr Sheehy said he would write a letter to the coroner to ask some personal questions he wanted clarification on, but also to thank him.
He said he would never give up until there was justice for Daniel. Mr Sheehy said his views were not necessarily shared by other members of his family.
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