Family call for safety measures on blinds to be made mandatory

THE family of a two-year-old boy who died by asphyxia after a bedroom blind cord became wrapped around his neck have called on the Government to make mandatory voluntary safety measures to ensure a similar tragedy never occurs again.

Speaking after the verdict on the death of two-year-old Arran Malley was detailed at yesterday’s Cork City Coroners Court hearing, family solicitor Tom Coughlan confirmed he will contact Environment Minister John Gormley and Children’s Minister Barry Andrews over the coming days in an attempt to prevent a further loss of life.

Mr Coughlan told the Irish Examiner the tragic toddler’s parents Shane and Gillian Malley will not decide on whether to take further legal action over the death of their son until they receive a full copy of consultant engineer Dr Denis Woods and assistant State pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster’s reports into the accident.

However, the family’s solicitor added that the Malleys will formally call on Government to make the voluntary safety measures mandatory over the coming days.

“We will be lobbying the National Standards Safety Authority (NSSA) and the Environment Minister and probably the Children’s Minister about this and to seek full mandatory introduction of the standards.

“Certainly, we will be making representation for mandatory regulation,” Mr Coughlan confirmed.

The confirmation of the step comes after the father of Arran, Shane Malley, told reporters outside the court after yesterday’s verdict that the current voluntary safety standards were “lax” and potentially put children at risk.

“They should be safe out of the box, the voluntary measures are too lax,” he explained when asked about existing blind cord products, adding that there is “no reason” for simple safety measures to go unheeded after the death of his son.

Mr Malley, who bravely decided to speak on behalf of his family to warn others of the dangers in their own home, offered his appreciation to the manner in which investigating gardaí, the coroners court, and the experts called upon treated the case.

But fighting back tears, he added it was essential parents across the country ensure a similar tragedy is never allowed to occur again.

“Check your house to make sure it is safe.

Our house is very quiet without him [Arran],” he said.