Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Pan left on a hot plate at full power
Hearing told Carrickmines inferno started in kitchen Temporary site did not have usual fire safety guidelines
Meanwhile, chief executive Philomena Poole said she was not aware of any problems with the site but was “shocked and horrified” by the tragedy.
She added: “I jumped into the car and drove out. Like everyone else I was shocked and horrified and I wish to offer my sincere condolences to both families.”
Ms Poole told Owen Donnelly, for the Connors family, she had been aware of the guidelines for Traveller accommodation.
She added: “They’re out since 1998 and they came out when I was formerly the director of housing.” Moments later a relative of the victims then shouted out: “Why did you say you know of the site but you didn’t know anything about it?”
Ms Poole continued: “I was aware. I visited every site in the country.”
Karl Drury, a council Traveller accommodation caretaker for 17 years, said there were four or five fire extinguishers loaded around the halting site and he insisted he carried out an inspection every six months to check smoke alarms and fire blankets inside the portacabins were working properly. He added he visited the site regularly and added: “I know most of them [the Connors] since they were kids, I get on well with them.”
Mr Drury said he had no concerns about the fire safety measures that were in place when he last visited the site on October 9 – less than 48 hours before the blaze.
Meanwhile, service engineer Michael O’driscoll said three fire extinguishers were taken away after the tragedy and found to be in perfect condition.
Dr Cullinane told the eight men and four women on the jury it was a “very tragic loss of life”. She stressed their role would be to hear evidence and record a verdict in the respect of each death.
She said the inquest has “nothing to do with criminal or civil liability” and there “can be no finding of fault or exoneration of anybody”.
Acute carbon monoxide poisoning due to smoke inhalation was given as the cause of death of all 10 victims at a previous inquest hearing.