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Fire suspect 'set Bebo sex traps' | |
(30 minutes later) | |
A man suspected of killing himself and his family in a house fire in Omagh was having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl, an inquest has heard. | A man suspected of killing himself and his family in a house fire in Omagh was having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl, an inquest has heard. |
Arthur McElhill, Lorraine McGovern and their five children died in the blaze at Lammy Crescent in November 2007. | Arthur McElhill, Lorraine McGovern and their five children died in the blaze at Lammy Crescent in November 2007. |
The inquest, which re-opened on Monday, heard how Arthur McElhill used a Bebo account in his son's name to make contact with teenage girls. | The inquest, which re-opened on Monday, heard how Arthur McElhill used a Bebo account in his son's name to make contact with teenage girls. |
In the days before the fire he sent over 100 text messages to two girls. | |
He was also revealed to have been having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl in the period before his death. The age of consent in Northern Ireland at that time was 17. It has since been changed to 16 years old. | He was also revealed to have been having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl in the period before his death. The age of consent in Northern Ireland at that time was 17. It has since been changed to 16 years old. |
Mr McElhill, a registered sex offender with previous convictions for assaulting teenage girls, is suspected of deliberately starting the fire killing his partner and their five children. | Mr McElhill, a registered sex offender with previous convictions for assaulting teenage girls, is suspected of deliberately starting the fire killing his partner and their five children. |
They were 13-year-old Caroline, seven-year-old Sean, Bellina, 4, Clodagh, 19 months and James, nine months. | They were 13-year-old Caroline, seven-year-old Sean, Bellina, 4, Clodagh, 19 months and James, nine months. |
A police chief inspector told the inquest on Monday that he did not believe anyone in the house other than Arthur McElhill was capable of starting the fire. | A police chief inspector told the inquest on Monday that he did not believe anyone in the house other than Arthur McElhill was capable of starting the fire. |
Forensic investigators have already told the inquest that the fire started when someone who was inside the house set light to a mixture of petrol and white spirits which had been poured in the hall. | Forensic investigators have already told the inquest that the fire started when someone who was inside the house set light to a mixture of petrol and white spirits which had been poured in the hall. |
It was also revealed in earlier hearings that Mr McElhill had made a suicide attempt in 1988. | It was also revealed in earlier hearings that Mr McElhill had made a suicide attempt in 1988. |
His GP told the hearing she prescribed antidepressants for Mr McElhill, but he did not always take them. | His GP told the hearing she prescribed antidepressants for Mr McElhill, but he did not always take them. |
The inquest reopened on Monday after a two month adjournment. | The inquest reopened on Monday after a two month adjournment. |