Layla Allen, 13, died in a house fire at her home in Kingsway, Prescot, on April 2 last year. Her parents, Shaun Allen and Michelle McGarry, and her five siblings had managed to escape, but the teenager was trapped inside. Firefighters forced their way in and found her on the top bunk of her bed on the first floor.
The inquest heard that the family had already experienced a fire at the same terraced home months earlier. A GoFundMe page set up at the time stated the family had lost everything but their lives. The fatal blaze is believed to have been started by someone in the family playing with a lighter, and the parents reportedly declined a referral to a fire safety education programme.
The fire likely began on Layla's bed. Investigators found two disposable lighters which the parents said did not belong to them. The lead investigator said the burn pattern suggested ignition on the top bunk, with the fire fed by oxygen from an open window. Layla was believed to have been asleep, which prevented her escape.
Police were unable to interview the other children present due to the potential trauma, supported by social services. The coroner noted that without statements from all parties, other possibilities could not be ruled out, but there was no evidence of an outside cause. Social services were described as "very involved" with the family.
