Doors were bolted at blaze deaths hostel, inquest told

BOLTED doors on a west Belfast hostel where two homeless men died in a fire could have led to an even bigger loss of life, it was claimed yesterday.

John Leckey, city coroner, expressed major concerns after fire chiefs were unable to confirm when the last safety checks were carried out on the Morning Star shelter.

The inquest into the deaths of Hugo Brannigan, 62, and James 'Jimbo' Irvine, 32, in February 2002 heard the front door of the building was padlocked when the blaze broke out.