In seeking support for her motion, Sinn Fein Colr. Marion Donaghy said had such a body existed six years ago, the tragic death of 50-year-old Dungiven firefighter Joe McCloskey could have been prevented. The well known father of five died during a blaze at the Gorteen Hotel during Hallowe'en 2003.

"The investigation after that had no impact on future firefighter loss," said Colr. Donaghy at council on Tuesday.

Colr. Donaghy's motion read: "That this council notes the recent increased number of firefighter deaths highlighted in the Fire Brigades' Union report In the Line of Duty; further notes the lack of safety-critical operational guidance for fire authorities highlighted in that report, and the absence of a properly resourced body with overall responsibility for recording and investigating firefighter deaths and other serious incidents; and therefore calls for work to be commenced with stakeholders to see through the creation of such a body with responsibility for developing and agreeing safety-critical operational guidance arising from these investigations".

Colr. Donaghy claimed: "Lives can be saved if a body such as this is set up, with guidelines. Joe is still severely missed in the community and I think his death could have been prevented if this body had been set up before he was sent out to the fire that night."

SDLP Alderman Michael Coyle said: "We owe a great debt of gratitude to the Fire Service. It is only when it comes to your own home or back door, when someone who died, who gave their whole life to the Service and loses their life and it affects the community, it certainly brings it home."

Sinn Fein Colr. Paddy Butcher, Joe McCloskey's brother-in-law, said since Joe died there have been a further 14 firefighter deaths.
"It keeps happening over and over again, in Warwickshire, Bray and Edinburgh," he said.

While all nationalist councillors at Tuesday's meeting and DUP Colr. Alan Robinson voted for the motion, several unionists abstained. Among them was UUP Colr. Edwin Stevenson who had earlier stated he "would certainly support anything that makes the job of firefighters safer". Also abstaining was UUC Colr. Boyd Douglas.

"I'm not opposed to it, but I have some concerns," said Colr. Douglas. "I don't think we are in a position to give guidance to a professional fire service. Anyone, full time or part time, knows the risk of the job. It's a risk they take. It's not our responsibility."
Limavady is the first of the North's 26 councils to back the motion which will also seek support from the Stormont Assembly and the EU Parliament.

Joe McCloskey's son Sean welcomed support for the motion.
"It is quite a shocking report because it highlights the dangers which still exist for firefighters," said Sean. He believes the deaths since his father "would seem to be in vain, that the lessons have not been learnt".