The inquest of husband and wife Franklin and Daphne Reid ruled that the fire which ripped through their home at Silverhill Park around mid-night on December 27/28 began when a lit cigarette fell to the carpet in Mr. Reid’s bedroom.
Coroner Joseph McCrisken stated: “The public should be aware of the deadly risk of cigarettes. Every six days in the UK someone dies in a fire caused by a cigarette; I find that shocking.”
The inquest at Fermanagh Court on Monday ruled that Mrs. Reid, 66, died just after mid-night on December 28 as a result of burns and inhalation of smoke. Mr. Reid, 70, died on January 4 in the South West Acute Hospital. His death was caused by hypoxic brain injury due to cardiac arrest, smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Despite brave attempts by police officers and fire fighters to save the couple, Mrs. Reid was dead when she was located inside the burning building and Mr. Reid had suffered to such an extent that there was very little likelihood of survival.
Mrs. Reid had rescued Mr. Reid from his burning bedroom and he was found sitting on the living room floor by a fire fighter, the inquest heard. For an unknown reason, she returned to the bedroom and was found badly burnt lying face up near the bedroom door. 
As a result of the inquest, in the coming days, the Coroner will decide whether he will send a ‘report to prevent further deaths’ to the Finance Minister suggesting that every room should have a smoke alarm fitted, rather than just the hallway. The move comes after Mr. Reid’s brother, Desmond, former Director of Regulatory Services on Fermanagh District Council, asked Coroner McCrisken to review smoke alarm regulations. 
Mr. and Mrs. Reid had a smoke alarm in their hall but it does not appear to have gone off, the inquest was told. Mr. Desmond Reid told the Coroner that if Mrs. Reid and her neighbour had heard a smoke alarm going off in Mr. Reid’s bedroom, they may have been able to get out of the burning house quicker.
The tragic events unfolded a few days after Christmas when Mr. and Mrs. Reid had been enjoying an evening with family and a neighbour.
Mr. William Reid visited the couple that evening. His statement to police explained that Mr. Reid used a walking aid because he did not have good mobility. He said that Mr. and Mrs Reid had been drinking and smoking in the living room. He said Mr. Reid went to bed around 10pm on his walking aid and was helped to the room by Mrs. Reid.
The Reids’ neighbour Ms. Ellen Stewart said she was friendly with the couple, who had no children but called each other “mammy” and “daddy”. She said that on arrival, Mr. Reid had a glass of whiskey and Mrs. Reid poured the two ladies a vodka. At 11.45, when Ms. Stewart was preparing to leave and Mrs. Reid was getting ready for bed, the women heard Mr. Reid shout: “Mammy, mammy, mammy” from his bedroom. Mrs. Reid sent Ms. Stewart to check on him and when she opened his bedroom door she was met by thick black smoke. She shouted that there was a fire, ran to the phone in the living room and rang 999 to report the fire, before running outside to get help. Ms. Stewart told the Coroner that nothing had seemed out of the ordinary until she opened Mr. Reid’s door and the smoke poured out.
PSNI Constable Daniel Finnegan crawled on his hands and knees into the house without breathing apparatus after hearing a 999 call in which someone said: “I can’t find daddy and I can’t get out.” That phone call from Mrs. Reid led the emergency services to believe that there could be children in the house. A second officer, Constable Damien Maguire, attempted to enter the property but was also overcome by smoke. When the fire service arrived, one team in breathing apparatus located Mrs. Reid’s body and another team located Mr. Reid. They carried out a further thermal imaging search of the house to make sure there was no one else present. 
A post mortem on Mrs. Reid included a Carboxyhaemoglobin test that showed her blood consisted of 26.2 per cent carbon monoxide. The examination found diazepam and alcohol in her system. Coroner McCrisken said: “The combination of diazepam and alcohol could have been a factor in her not being able to escape the fire. It seems to me that Daphne rescued Franklin from the bedroom and somehow pulled him into the living room. For some reason I don’t know, she went back to the bedroom and the combination of smoke, carbon monoxide and intoxication caused a degree of confusion which meant that she didn’t escape the fire.”
A report by a hospital consultant showed that Mr. Reid had experienced a cardiac arrest by the time he reached hospital. His blood was 45 per cent carbon monoxide. A CAT scan showed that he had suffered brain damage and his treatment was stopped on January 1, with family permission.
A forensic scientist’s report stated: “The fire originated in the front bedroom. Careless disposal of smoking products was most likely the cause.”
Concluding, the Coroner said: “I am satisfied this fire was caused by the careless placing of a cigarette. Fifty per cent of all fires involve people who have consumed alcohol. Home owners should have a smoke detector fitted and a proper fire escape plan. In addition, home owners should consider placing smoke detectors in bedrooms.”
He offered his condolences to the Reid and Johnston families who were present in court.