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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Inquest into family blaze deaths | Inquest into family blaze deaths |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| An inquest into the deaths of a family of seven in a house fire in Omagh almost two years ago is scheduled to begin later. | An inquest into the deaths of a family of seven in a house fire in Omagh almost two years ago is scheduled to begin later. |
| Lorraine McGovern, Arthur McElhill, and their five children died in the blaze at Lammy Crescent in the County Tyrone town in November 2007. | Lorraine McGovern, Arthur McElhill, and their five children died in the blaze at Lammy Crescent in the County Tyrone town in November 2007. |
| Mr McElhill, who had convictions for sexually assaulting teenage girls, was suspected of starting the fire. | Mr McElhill, who had convictions for sexually assaulting teenage girls, was suspected of starting the fire. |
| The hearing, at Omagh courthouse, is expected to last up to a week. | The hearing, at Omagh courthouse, is expected to last up to a week. |
| It is expected that members of the McElhill and McGovern families will be called to give evidence along with anyone who had dealings with the victims before the fire. | |
| It's understood the families have already been briefed on the evidence, some of it said to be harrowing. | |
| Neighbours, particularly those who tried to get the family out of the blaze, will also be called as will members of the medical and emergency services. | Neighbours, particularly those who tried to get the family out of the blaze, will also be called as will members of the medical and emergency services. |
| Each of the seven fatalities will be addressed separately before the coroner decides on the cause of death. | |
| Death certificates for the two adults and five children, Caroline, aged 13, Sean, seven, Bellina, four, Clodagh, 19 months, and James, nine months, will be issued when the proceedings have been completed. | |
| Caroline, aged 13, was the eldest. Next was Sean, who was seven. Then Bellina, aged four, Clodagh, 19 months, and James, just nine months. | |
| Support | |
| Special support is being offered to people living in the area as well as at local schools. | |
| Dominic Clarke, principal of Sacred Heart College, where the oldest girl Caroline was a pupil, said the school would be addressing any issues which arose among its pupils during the inquest. | |
| "We have a school nurse, a counsellor, and a strong pastoral system in place to help any of our pupils who feel that they need to talk about what happened or is taking place at the inquest," he said. | |
| "Support will be available both internally and externally and we are well aware of just how tragic an event this was and the impact it had on the whole school community. | |
| "It is expected that the matter will also be addressed at the school Assembly." | |
| Last July, an independent report criticised how information was communicated within the Western Health and Social Care Trust and other agencies over the assessment of the potential risk posed by Mr McElhill to teenage girls. | Last July, an independent report criticised how information was communicated within the Western Health and Social Care Trust and other agencies over the assessment of the potential risk posed by Mr McElhill to teenage girls. |
| The report had 63 recommendations and Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said they would be implemented and that child protection services across Northern Ireland would also be inspected. | The report had 63 recommendations and Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said they would be implemented and that child protection services across Northern Ireland would also be inspected. |