A CO DERRY restaurant has been closed by order of Health and Safety Executive (HSE) officials investigating the deaths of two teenagers in a holiday apartment in Castlerock last week.
Aaron Davidson and Neil McFerran (both 18) died of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning on Tuesday of last week. A gas appliance on the property was found to be faulty and the HSE has advised that anyone with a gas appliance fitted by George Brown’s Calor Shop in Coleraine, Co Derry, should turn it off.
Following this alert The Ice House restaurant in Portstewart was closed yesterday over possible safety concerns. It has gas fittings supplied by Mr Brown.
His business, which is a separate entity to Calor Gas NI Ltd, is at the centre of investigations into the deaths of the teenagers.
A hairdresser’s closed on Tuesday over similar concerns.
Other businesses are also being checked and a special telephone helpline for use by those with concerns about the safety of gas appliances has been contacted by hundreds of callers.
Mr Brown said yesterday he was co-operating with the authorities. His solicitor said in a statement: “Mr Brown would like to express his most sincere condolences to the Davidson and McFerran families following their tragic loss. Mr Brown fully supports the investigation being carried out by the authorities. He will help, and co-operate to the fullest possible extent, and in any way possible, in order to assist the investigation into this tragedy.
“He has been in constant contact with the authorities since the tragic events have occurred. He thanks all those friends and customers who have contacted him offering messages of support, but would ask that all thoughts and prayers be with the Davidson and McFerran families at this time.”
Two Stormont Ministers, Finance Minister Sammy Wilson and Industry Minister Arlene Foster, met yesterday to discuss plans to make compulsory the fitting of carbon monoxide detectors in all new-build properties.