THE INQUEST into the deaths of a family of seven at their home in Co Tyrone two years ago has heard further harrowing details of the fire which killed them.
A statement by one of the firefighters which attended the blaze at Lammy Crescent in Omagh in the early hours of November 13th, 2007, told the court how the bodies of the McElhill-McGovern family were found in the first-floor bedrooms of their end-of-terrace home.
The statement by David Canning, who was not in the court, was read into the record by the clerk who faltered frequently during her delivery.
Mr Canning’s graphic account recalled how he was one of the crew on the first fire appliance to reach the burning home. He and a colleague entered the building using fire protection gear and using breathing apparatus.
“No persons would have been alive in this fire,” his statement read.
He told how he located two adult bodies in one bedroom and of his discovery of children’s bodies and associated body parts elsewhere. Their remains had been badly charred, the court heard.
Evidence from another fire fighter at the scene recorded the belief that the heat reached more than 700 degrees. Other disturbing evidence was heard from Jennifer Costello who worked in the fire service control room on the night of the fire. She told the court how she received a call from a mobile phone, adding that the caller was unable to speak due to coughing and vomiting.
Despite remaining on the line for up to five minutes, Ms Costello said she tried to give advice to the caller but could only hear screaming and the noise of the blaze in the background.
Fire officers in statements told the court of the dangers posed by the collapsing roof of the building and of their fears that the gable would also collapse.
Such was the graphic detail of their evidence that the coroner commended them on their bravery.
Det Sgt Monteith also told coroner Suzanne Anderson that it has now been established that one of the bodies of the McElhill children was not found with rosary beads in her hand.
Dr Michelle Mellotte confirmed to the court that Mr McElhill was a patient of hers who had sought medical help for feelings of depression in 2007.
She told how she prescribed mild anti-depressants for him and advised him to make another appointment to monitor his condition. No such appointment was ever kept, she said.
The court is to sit again in Omagh on December 7th.