Coleraine Man Jailed Over CO Poisoning

A Coleraine man has been sentenced to two years in jail and fined £19k after two 18-year-old friends died of carbon monoxide poisoning at a holiday apartment in Castlerock in August 2010.

George Brown, 52, from Ballygawley Road in Aghadowey, pleaded guilty in January to unlawfully killing Neil McFerran and Aaron Davidson, as well as to 19 charges of health and safety failures.

Neil McFerran and Aaron Davidson died of carbon monoxide poisoning after being overcome by carbon monoxide fumes. Another friend, Matthew Gaw, was seriously injured.

The three friends had been celebrating after completing their A levels.

It was later found that the flue in a new gas boiler fitted by Mr Brown's company became dislodged and filled the property with the poisonous gas.

Commenting on the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Rachel Shields said: "Two young men, Aaron and Neil, who had their whole lives in front of them, died tragically from carbon monoxide poisoning in a flat, in Castlerock, in August 2010.

"While the judge in giving the sentence today acknowledged all of the circumstances surrounding the incident; no sentence will ever bring Aaron or Neil back. It is an extremely difficult day for Aaron and Neil’s families and I would like to thank them for their relentless bravery and the unequivocal support that they gave to all the various stages of this extensive investigation.

"The Police Service of Northern Ireland worked extremely closely with the Health and Safety Executive NI’s Gas Safety Inspection team, its Major Investigations Team and its Scientific Services Unit throughout and it was only through the combined efforts of everyone that this case was brought before the courts.

"The families of Aaron and Neil have and continue to, highlight the issue of carbon monoxide poisoning. It is an issue that all households should be aware of and I would remind service providers who work with installing heating systems or maintaining heating systems of the legal requirements and responsibilities that govern this area of business."

Louis Burns of the Health and Safety Executive said: "The tragic and untimely deaths of Neil and Aaron from carbon monoxide poisoning serve as a potent reminder of the dangers this deadly gas poses.

"Our deepest sympathies remain with the family and friends of Aaron and Neil at this very difficult time. Our thoughts are also with Mathew Gaw who was seriously injured in this terrible incident."

"Today’s sentencing is the culmination of one of the biggest investigations, and at times complex, ever undertaken by HSENI and we’d like to thank our colleagues in the PSNI’s Criminal Investigation Department for their support."

(IT/MH)