THE BODIES of the family of three who died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning in their home near Gurteen, Co Sligo, a week before Christmas have been returned to England for their funerals next week.
Trevor Wallwork (50) and his children, Kim (12) and Harry (9), are lying in repose at Co-operative Funeralcare in Salford, Lancashire, after their removal by hearse from Sligo on Wednesday.
They are expected to be buried next week following clearance for the funeral service from a local coroner. The coroner at Bolton is awaiting documents before giving approval for the service at 10am on Tuesday at St Mark’s Church, Swinton, Manchester.
Mr Wallwork’s wife, Susan, has been receiving hospital treatment for an illness and is understood to be awaiting a decision from doctors on whether she is fit to travel.
She left her sickbed last week to join a community prayer service with 400 other mourners in the chapel of the Nazareth House, Sligo. Her daughter, Vicky (22), who discovered the bodies of Mr Wallwork and his children after she was unable to get an answer to telephone calls to their home, is to travel for the funeral.
Insp Colm Nevin, who is leading the inquiry into the deaths, said last night it could be several weeks before toxicology tests were available and it would be some months before an inquest would be held in Sligo.
Investigators believe the three died, on December 18th, from carbon monoxide poisoning as Mr Wallwork sat in an armchair and his children lay on the floor watching television in their living-room at Moygara.
Gardaí believe a blockage caused by a large crisp bag in a chimney over a coal fire may have caused the poisoning. The bag, which could hold a number of smaller crisp bags, is believed to have been dumped on the fire and sucked up the chimney flue. It was discovered in the first 24 hours of the investigation into the deaths.
Mr Wallwork and his family moved from England to Gurteen seven years ago. The two younger children attended the nearby Mullaghroe national school.
Schoolmates of the deceased children were counselled on dealing with the tragedy by staff from the National Educational Psychological Service.
The mandatory installation of carbon monoxide alarms in all new homes is to be addressed by building regulations being drafted by the Department of the Environment.