Madam, – I was grieved to read your recent articles reporting the tragic deaths of two young men in holiday accommodation at Castlerock, Co Donegal, due to suspected carbon monoxide poisoning.
My long-term boyfriend Alexis Landry died in his rented apartment in November 2008, aged 30, as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. In this particular case, a design fault in a cooker led to the emission of the odourless gas. Alexis, who had just begun writing his doctoral thesis at the time of death, could easily have been saved by the presence of a carbon monoxide detector in his accommodation; present Irish law, however, does not necessitate the installation of one in residences.
Laws in the US require the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in all residences. The installation of carbon monoxide detectors should be as much a legal requirement of landlords and homeowners as is the installation of fire detectors. Many needless deaths might then be prevented. – Yours, etc,