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House fire body search resuming | House fire body search resuming |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The search is resuming for the remaining two members of a family of seven feared to have died in a house fire in Omagh, County Tyrone. | The search is resuming for the remaining two members of a family of seven feared to have died in a house fire in Omagh, County Tyrone. |
Arthur McElhill, Lorraine McGovern and their five children are thought to have been killed in the blaze. | Arthur McElhill, Lorraine McGovern and their five children are thought to have been killed in the blaze. |
Five bodies have been found in the house at Lammy Crescent. None of the remains have been removed. | Five bodies have been found in the house at Lammy Crescent. None of the remains have been removed. |
Fire Service Western Area Commander Ian Doyle said the priority was finding the two people "not yet accounted for". | Fire Service Western Area Commander Ian Doyle said the priority was finding the two people "not yet accounted for". |
He said that additional firefighters were being drafted in to help find the bodies and establish how the fire began, just before 0500 GMT on Tuesday. | He said that additional firefighters were being drafted in to help find the bodies and establish how the fire began, just before 0500 GMT on Tuesday. |
'Very close family' | |
"We've had the ceilings fall down on top of the belongings and a partial roof collapse, it's going to make it a very slow process for us," he said. | "We've had the ceilings fall down on top of the belongings and a partial roof collapse, it's going to make it a very slow process for us," he said. |
Mr Doyle said that it had been a "harrowing experience" for the local firefighters and trauma support for the crews had begun. | Mr Doyle said that it had been a "harrowing experience" for the local firefighters and trauma support for the crews had begun. |
Father Tom McManus, the parish priest in Corlagh in County Cavan where Lorraine McGovern grew up, said they had been a very close family. | Father Tom McManus, the parish priest in Corlagh in County Cavan where Lorraine McGovern grew up, said they had been a very close family. |
"It's just devastating when you look back at those things, the happy times and the good times," he said. | "It's just devastating when you look back at those things, the happy times and the good times," he said. |
"They were reminiscing about that the last time we had spoken together - the last time they had visited, at the baptism... it's just horrendous." | "They were reminiscing about that the last time we had spoken together - the last time they had visited, at the baptism... it's just horrendous." |
The eldest of the five children, Caroline, 13, attended the nearby Sacred Heart College. | The eldest of the five children, Caroline, 13, attended the nearby Sacred Heart College. |
The other four were Sean, 7, Bellina, 4, Clodagh ,19 months and James, who was nine months old. | The other four were Sean, 7, Bellina, 4, Clodagh ,19 months and James, who was nine months old. |
Sean and Bellina were pupils at St Conor's Primary School, which was closed following the tragedy. | Sean and Bellina were pupils at St Conor's Primary School, which was closed following the tragedy. |
Chief Superintendent Norman Baxter said police were investigating the cause of the blaze. | Chief Superintendent Norman Baxter said police were investigating the cause of the blaze. |
"It is very early in the investigation and we will be looking at a range of issues, including the period leading up to the fire," he said. | "It is very early in the investigation and we will be looking at a range of issues, including the period leading up to the fire," he said. |