A former IRA prisoner died in a house blaze after the petroleum-based cream on his skin caught on fire while smoking in bed, a coroner has found.
Eugene McKee, who was jailed for his part in an IRA bombing campaign in 1991, was found ‘curled up’ on his bedroom floor by his ex-partner in Twinbrook in June last year.
An inquest which took place in Laganside Courthouse heard the skin products the 66-year-old was using significantly increased the flammability of his bedding.
Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service watch commander Les McAteer said the point of origin of the fire was the bed in the master bedroom with smoking materials found in the area.
He explained the emollient-based moisturisers, such as Vaseline, were also found in the bedroom, adding the deceased ‘appeared to be a prolific user of skin creams’ as it covered his sheets and mattress.
He said: ‘In the event of a fire, it can cause the fire to develop and spread quicker than normal.’
He was last seen alive by his son who said he lit up a cigarette the evening he died, Belfast Telegraph reports.
The pair had previously argued over Mr McKee’s smoking habit as he had suffered two heart attacks and a lung condition.
His ex-partner Charlene Nellins attended the scene with their son after they were told by neighbours the ground floor flat’s smoke alarm had been going off for an hour.
She said she saw Mr McKee ‘curled up next to the window’ with coroner Abbe-Louise Toal ruling he had tried to escape.
Mr McAteer determined Mr McKee either fell asleep while smoking or dropped a lit cigarette on the bed.
The inquest was also told he was suffering extreme paranoia in the run up to the tragedy.
A doctor said Mr McKee believed people were ‘out to get him’ in the months before his death.
He had a brief hospital stay but discharged himself against medical advice.
The coroner ruled his cause of death as carbon monoxide and smoke inhalation, which was exacerbated by his ‘vulnerable’ health condition.
Ms Toal said: ‘The presence of emollient increased the flammability of the bedding.
‘A lot of smoke would have filled the room quite quickly and the deceased was quickly overcome.’
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