An inquest at Belfast’s Coroners court today heard that a lit cigarette caused a fire that killed three generations of one family.

Jackie Bothwell, 37, his three-year-old son Madison and grandmother Helen McCoubrey, 80 were found dead in a bungalow at the Edenbrook Close area of the Shankill road last November.

The family were overcome by the toxic fumes after the fire started in the front bedroom.

Coroner John Lecky found that while the fire was accidental, alcohol had no doubt played a part in the tragedy.

The forensic report revealed Mrs MrCoubrey had a blood alcohol reading three times over the legal limit.

Mr Lecky said: "The fire had smouldered over a long period of time, probably over a number of hours. At the time of the deaths the adults would have been considerably intoxicated, the fumes generating from the fire would have affected those people, one of whom was a little boy.

"The effects would have been insidious. The three people succumbed to unconsciousness without realising it."

The inquest heard evidence from those who saw them before they died. Both Jackie and Helen had been seen drinking early in the morning of the day their bodies were found.

Forensic experts told the court they believed the fire would have been smouldering for some time and it is likely the three had died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

(JM)