By Conor Sharkey

THE Housing Executive have been strongly criticised this week for refusing to install working smoke alarms in the home of a Strabane single mother.

Noeleen Maguire (23) of Drumrallagh Estate contacted the Housing Executive following the devastating house fire which wiped out a family in Omagh on Tuesday.

At present, there are two smoke detectors installed within Miss Maguire's home, however neither have been operational since she moved in in April.

And after being told that it is not Housing Executive policy to install smoke alarms unless rewiring work is being carried out, Miss Maguire said she now fears for her own safety and the safety of her one year old son.

"I have two smoke alarms in the house, one upstairs and one down, but neither of them have worked since I got the house.

"After seeing what happened in Omagh this week, I realised just how important the alarms are, so, I contacted the Executive to ask them to come and either fix the ones in the house or install new ones. I was shocked when they said their policy didn't cover smoke alarms," she explained.

Miss Maguire continued: "I work 17 hours a week and I get about £100. Seventy pounds of that goes towards my rent so I just haven't got the money to out and buy smoke alarms and because I'm renting from the Executive, I think it should be up to them to put them in.

"They did say that if they are refitting the kitchen of the houses, they do install new alarms but I think it should be the case in all Executive houses.

"I am worried for the safety of myself and my son and I think the Housing Executive should have another look at their policy," she said.

Echoing the calls for the Housing Executive to review their policy, councillor Ivan Barr said he would be asking Strabane District Council to look into the issue.

"Smoke alarms aren't expensive and while the Housing Executive may not the surplus budget to replace them across their entire housing stock, when it comes to people like single mothers, they should be a priority.

"I will be asking Strabane District Council to contact the Executive over this policy, because I very much doubt if anyone would disagree that smoke alarms do prevent loss of life.

"There is no such thing as 100 percent protection but smoke alarms are an invaluable safety tool and I think the Housing Executive should have a look at their policy," Mr Barr said.

Responding to Miss Maguire's plea, The Housing Executive said it has an ongoing programme of installing hard wired smoke alarms in its properties and that alarms are also being installed where improvements are being carried out.

They did advise tenants however: "If you do not have a smoke alarm we advise our tenants to buy inexpensive battery smoke alarms for their homes."