Take care when using gas cookers

I WAS grieved to read that an inquest into the deaths of two elderly women in Co Donegal in September 2009 revealed the deaths were most likely caused by a defect in a Beko Flavel model gas cooker.

An inquest into the death of my boyfriend in Macroom, November 2008, revealed that a defect in a New World model gas cooker was the most likely cause of his untimely death.

In both circumstances, the victims operated the cookers with the grill door closed which resulted in lethal levels of carbon monoxide, an odourless invisible gas, being released.

I would urge all those who use gas cookers, particularly landlords as well as parents with children in student accommodation, to check the cookers.

Information is also available on the National Consumer Agency website (www.nca.ie).

Everyone using gas or fossil fuel appliances should also invest in a carbon monoxide detector.

The Irish people have enough to worry about at the moment without running the risk of being killed in their own home by a seemingly harmless kitchen appliance.

Bernadette McCarthy

Shandangan West

Carrigadrohid

Co Cork