Restaurants closed amid probe into fumes tragedy

TWO restaurants have been ordered to close by health officials inspecting gas appliances in the area of Northern Ireland where two teenagers died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

The owners of the premises in Portstewart, Co Londonderry, and Rasharkin, Co Antrim, pulled closed their doors as inspectors continued to question the gas fitter who installed the heater suspected of killing 18-year-olds Aaron Davidson and Neil McFerran in the town of Castlerock.

The development came as Stormont Ministers prepared to meet today to discuss whether carbon monoxide detectors should be compulsory in new buildings in the province.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Aaron and Neil, from Newtownabbey, outside Belfast, were spending time at a seaside apartment awaiting their exam results when they were overcome by poisonous fumes last week. A third teenager, Matthew McGaw, also 18, was also poisoned but survived the leak.

The Health and Safety Executive found that a gas appliance was not working properly.