Batteries 'removed from noisy alarm'

Mr Harrison died after an electric heater overturned and set the floor alight

A Devon man died of smoke inhalation after batteries were removed from a fire alarm because it made too much noise when it was activated, an inquest heard on Monday.

David Harrison, 59, died after a fire broke out in the rented property he shared with nine others in Stoke, Plymouth, in December 2001.

Mr Harrison, who was unemployed, was found dead in his first-floor bedsit after an electric heater overturned and set the floor alight.

The property was owned by Madeline Bird of Hartley, Plymouth, who told the inquest she bought the property in 1997 and ran it as a business with her husband Kenneth.

It is just a pathetic excuse that someone took the battery out because it was making too much noise when they made toast

Gary Harrison

When interviewed by police Mr Bird said the caretaker Barry Hocking told him after the fire he had removed the smoke detector battery because it made too much noise.

Mr Hocking denied this when questioned by police.

Mr Bird said he had carried out extensive work on two other properties to bring them into line with fire safety standards but had not yet started on the Stoke property.

Police officers investigating Mr Harrison's death prepared a report for the Crown Prosecution Service, who decided not to continue proceedings against Mr and Mrs Bird.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Plymouth coroner Nigel Meadows said he would report the inquest's findings to Plymouth City Council, asking them to reassess whether multi-occupancy buildings should be registered with the authority.

Speaking after the inquest Mr Harrison's 36-year-old son Gary said: "It should never have happened because of the fire alarm situation.

"It is just a pathetic excuse that someone took the battery out because it was making too much noise when they made toast."