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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Murder inquiry after hotel arson | Murder inquiry after hotel arson |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The deaths of three people in a fire at a Cornish hotel are being treated as murder after police confirmed they were investigating an arson attack. | The deaths of three people in a fire at a Cornish hotel are being treated as murder after police confirmed they were investigating an arson attack. |
| More than 80 people escaped from the Penhallow Hotel blaze in Newquay on 18 August last year. | More than 80 people escaped from the Penhallow Hotel blaze in Newquay on 18 August last year. |
| Peter Hughes, 43, of Cheslyn Hay, Staffs, was killed trying to rescue his mother, Monica, 86. Joan Harper, 80, from Stoke on Trent, was also killed. | |
| Inquests have been opened and adjourned into all three deaths. | Inquests have been opened and adjourned into all three deaths. |
| Police said it was the most serious hotel fire in the country for 30 years and it was a "miracle" more people were not killed. | |
| To now learn that someone must now answer a murder charge has added to an already heavy burden Marjorie Brys, victim's sister | |
| Detectives said painstaking inquiries by fire service investigators and independent experts had established the fire was started deliberately. | Detectives said painstaking inquiries by fire service investigators and independent experts had established the fire was started deliberately. |
| Det Ch Supt Chris Boarland said police believed someone could be harbouring the arsonist. | Det Ch Supt Chris Boarland said police believed someone could be harbouring the arsonist. |
| "Somebody else may have knowledge of this, even if they were not involved. We need them to come forward," he said. | "Somebody else may have knowledge of this, even if they were not involved. We need them to come forward," he said. |
| When the fire broke out in the early hours, the hotel was close to capacity with 86 guests, three members of staff and a coach driver in the building. | When the fire broke out in the early hours, the hotel was close to capacity with 86 guests, three members of staff and a coach driver in the building. |
| Peter Hughes died trying to rescue his mother from the blaze | |
| Fire crews had to withdraw when parts of the structure gave way. | Fire crews had to withdraw when parts of the structure gave way. |
| It was later decided the four-storey hotel should be demolished. | It was later decided the four-storey hotel should be demolished. |
| Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Peter Hughes' sister Pat Albutt said: "Losing my mum and Peter feels like the heart has been ripped out of our family." | |
| She said Mr Hughes was a well-respected teacher who was greatly missed. | |
| "It says all that you need to know about Peter that he died trying to save our mum from the fire." | |
| At the inquest into his death, Cornwall coroner Emma Carlyon found Mr Hughes died from inhaling smoke and toxic fumes. | |
| The remains of the hotel have been extensively searched | |
| Joan Harper's sister Marjorie Brys, said: "To lose her so tragically has been a terrible blow. | |
| "To now learn that someone must now answer a murder charge has added to an already heavy burden. | |
| "I hope that the police will now bring to justice whoever is responsible for such a terrible act and that my sister will now be able to rest in peace." | |
| Following the fire, John McMillan, a director at Holdsworth Hotels which owns the Penhallow, said the company was "shocked" at what had happened but they were confident the evacuation of the hotel had gone "to plan". | Following the fire, John McMillan, a director at Holdsworth Hotels which owns the Penhallow, said the company was "shocked" at what had happened but they were confident the evacuation of the hotel had gone "to plan". |
| Service reviewed | |
| The hotel's fire escape had last passed a safety inspection in 2006 and the owners said smoke detectors and fire doors had been checked two weeks before the blaze. | The hotel's fire escape had last passed a safety inspection in 2006 and the owners said smoke detectors and fire doors had been checked two weeks before the blaze. |
| The Mayor of Newquay, Patrick Lambshead, called for 24-hour fire cover from stations in the town during the summer months after Cornwall's chief fire officer admitted he did not have enough officers to crew a second pump to tackle the fire. | The Mayor of Newquay, Patrick Lambshead, called for 24-hour fire cover from stations in the town during the summer months after Cornwall's chief fire officer admitted he did not have enough officers to crew a second pump to tackle the fire. |
| Cornwall County Council began a review of the overall fire service after the hotel blaze. | Cornwall County Council began a review of the overall fire service after the hotel blaze. |