A man in Galway, Ireland apparently died of spontaneous
combustion last year in December. At least, according to a court
ruling this week. Michael Faherty's death had been a mystery
because coroners and police couldn't explain how the fire that
killed him only seemed to have burned the man and his immediate
surroundings.  Spontaneous combustion occurs when a person
suddenly catches on fire without any external source of fire
causing the blaze. There have been only a few hundred cases
recorded throughout the world. The Irish Times reports:  West
Galway corner Dr Ciarán McLoughlin said he had never encountered
such a case in the 25 years that he had been investigating
deaths in the region.  Forensic experts found that a fire in the
fireplace of the sittingroom where the badly burnt body was
found was not the cause of the blaze that killed Mr Faherty.
The court was told that no trace of an accelerant had been found
and there was nothing to suggest foul play.    After
deliberating for many months, the court fina