'Carbon monoxide alarms must be made mandatory'

The call was made after the tragic deaths of Whiteabbey teenagers Aaron Davidson and Neil McFerran at a holiday apartment in Castlerock last week.

The two 18-year-olds, who died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, were found dead at the property last Tuesday evening (August 3). Their friend, Matthew Gaw, survived.

The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland has since identified a defective liquid petroleum gas appliance as the source of the suspected carbon monoxide (CO) leak.

Describing the deaths of Aaron and Neil as "an unbelievable tragedy", North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds expressed his deepest sympathy to their families.

Reflecting on the shocking loss of two young lives, the DUP Deputy Leader has called for carbon monoxide alarms to be made mandatory with the installation of gas heating.

"The Public Health Agency has rightly urged people to be vigilant for the signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and has recommended installation of an audible carbon monoxide alarm that meets British or European standards. It is a shortcoming in current legislation that such an alarm is not a mandatory requirement.

"Installation of a carbon monoxide alarm must be made mandatory as part of the regulations for the installation of gas heating. I will press for the Department of Finance and Personnel to include this in a review of building regulations, in the same way that smoke detectors are mandatory in all new buildings," he said.

At Newtownabbey Borough Council's monthly meeting on Monday evening, members agreed to write to Ministers at Stormont calling on them to make CO monitors a legal requirement in all new-builds - a plea echoed by Aaron Davidson's heartbroken aunt, Yvonne Best, the owner of the Castlerock holiday apartment where the boys died.