Car fire on motorway

Emergency services rushed to the Nenagh-Limerick M7 last Saturday after a car caught fire.

The car, a 20-year-old Mercedes, was completely destroyed in the blaze. The driver, Nenagh man James O’Gorman, told of how other motorists flashed their lights to warn him that smoke was coming from his vehicle. He pulled over near Birdhill and got out of the car to safety, but could only watch and wait for assistance as his vehicle burst into flames.

Mr O’Gorman, who is in his 70s, said he has a background in health and safety work but was surprised at how quickly the fire started. He said he was also surprised to learn that the suspected cause of the fire was a fault with the catalytic converter, and that this is something that can often cause vehicles to burst into flames.

Counting himself lucky to have escaped unharmed but unfortunate to have lost his car in such a way, the Nenagh man wanted other motorists to be aware of this issue with catalytic converters and to make sure that they are regularly and properly inspected.