Omagh Blaze Report Reveals Failings

The awful blaze tragedy that killed an entire family and shocked the whole country last November was impossible to predict.

An independent report into the deliberate house fire in Omagh on 13 November 2007, in which a family of seven died, found that agencies involved with the murdered family had no indication the tragic event was about to occur.

However, while the report concluded there is no evidence that anyone working with the family could have known the fire would happen, the report said there "is absolutely no doubt that there were failings on the part of health and social services".

The Review Panel, which was chaired by Henry Toner QC, examined the quality of the professional work of the various agencies involved with Arthur McElhill, Lorraine McGovern and their five children.

A total of 63 recommendations have been made in the report, which highlighted a number of deficits in key areas including communication of information between all agencies in respect of the criminal offences committed by Arthur McElhill; dissemination of that information within disciplines of the trust and other agencies and assessment of potential risks posed by Arthur McElhill to teenage girls by reason of the nature of those criminal offences; and good practice and management within the disciplines of the trust and other agencies.

Commenting on the independent report, Health and Social Services Minister Michael McGimpsey said: "I know that the McGovern and McElhill families, and indeed the entire community, are still grieving after the terrible event which happened in Omagh last November.

"My deepest sympathies go out to these families who have suffered the heartbreaking loss of their children and grandchildren.

"This report has some 63 recommendations aimed at all agencies involved in supporting and protecting children and families.

"While the report concludes there is no evidence that anyone working with the family could have known the fire would happen, there is absolutely no doubt that there were failings on the part of health and social services.

"I want to see immediate action taken to address the deficits which have come to light.

"The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority will be undertaking an inspection of child protection services across Northern Ireland, which will begin later this year," he said.

He also noted that a major programme to reform frontline child protection services in Northern Ireland is currently underway.

As part of this reform, £2 million has been invested in child protection services and over the next three years nearly £15 million will be invested in child protection and family support services, of which some £11 million represents investment in new services.

The Minister continued: "By having common standards for both the supervision of social work and the recording of information we can ensure that there is better communication and take action when there is poor practice.

"I intend to introduce a caseload management system over the next few months.

"Protecting children and ensuring families in distress have every help and support is a key priority for me and I will ensure that the recommendations in this review are implemented without delay."

The father of the family that died was quickly suspected of burning his family and himself to death when it emerged that he was a convicted sex offender.

Arthur McElhill had received a two-year suspended sentence for one attack and just a few years later he went on to re-offend.

In 1996 he was given a five-year jail term at Dungannon Crown Court for indecently assaulting another 17 year-old girl in Irvinestown.

See: Omagh Blaze Father's Past Revealed

(BMcC)