Filipino Healthcare Worker Died in Dublin Apartment Fire After Months of Distress, Inquest Reveals

A Filipino healthcare worker who had been suspended from his job at a Dublin nursing home died in a fire in his city-centre apartment two years ago, an inquest has heard.

Henry Delos Reyes, 59 — also known as Abby — suffered fatal injuries in the bedroom of his second-floor apartment on Capel Street, Dublin 1, on September 11, 2023. The extent of the burns meant his identity could only be confirmed through DNA samples matched with those of his siblings in the Philippines.

Colleague Describes His Emotional Decline

At the inquest, colleague Sandra Byrne recounted that Delos Reyes had been left devastated following his suspension from Nazareth House, where he worked as a healthcare assistant.

“It broke him on another level,” she said, explaining that he had stopped eating, was struggling financially, and had become increasingly withdrawn. His colleagues and the families of residents had raised around €1,000 to help him — a gesture she said had “blown him away.”

In the weeks before his death, Ms Byrne became alarmed after being unable to reach him, which she described as highly unusual. Staff at Nazareth House were “devastated” to learn of his passing.

Signs of Deepening Distress

His GP, Dr Ban Mustafa, told the inquest that Delos Reyes had been prescribed antidepressants after reporting low mood and suicidal thoughts. However, he had said he had no plans to end his life because of his family in the Philippines.

His flatmate, Marian Chua, stated that in May 2023 she noticed he was staying home during hours he was normally at work. He claimed it was due to a revised summer work schedule. She described him as private and soft-spoken, usually going directly to his room. Their last conversation was in July, when he asked her to pay the full electricity bill because he had no money.

The apartment’s landlord, James Norton, had visited the previous evening to discuss unpaid rent arrears spanning several months.

Moments Before the Fire

On September 11, Ms Chua returned home and knocked on his bedroom door to discuss the rent but received no response. Later, she heard the fire alarm, followed by a loud explosion and smoke pouring from his room.

She recalled seeing him sitting on a couch engulfed in flames, his body “completely still and already charred.” Unable to enter the room due to intense heat and smoke, she escaped the building.

Dublin Fire Brigade firefighter Liam Caffrey told the inquest the blaze may have reached 600°C.

A post-mortem found that Delos Reyes died from a combination of severe burns and inhalation of combustible materials. Toxicology tests were negative for alcohol or drugs.

Fire Origin and Evidence of Intent

The coroner, Dr Cróna Gallagher, reassured relatives attending via videolink that he would not have suffered for long after the fire started. Forensic Science Ireland reported the presence of an accelerant in debris from the room, with the fire believed to have begun on the couch.

Detective Garda Mairead Murphy said a diary recovered from the apartment contained his final entry:
“I have lost everything in my life since May 4, 2023.”

He also thanked his colleagues at Nazareth House and expressed a wish to be cremated.

Detective Garda Murphy confirmed he had been suspended pending an internal investigation, though no findings had been concluded. She told the coroner she was satisfied he had taken his own life.

Verdict: Suicide

Recording a verdict of suicide, Dr Gallagher said Delos Reyes may have become overwhelmed and acted impulsively on the day of his death. She added that functioning smoke alarms had undoubtedly saved other residents’ lives.

Describing the incident as “a terrible tragedy,” the coroner said it was clear that Delos Reyes had been “not only valued, but loved” by colleagues and friends.