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Murder inquiry into fire deaths Murder inquiry into fire deaths
(1 day later)
The house fire in Omagh in which a family is believed to have died is being treated as a murder inquiry, the police have said.The house fire in Omagh in which a family is believed to have died is being treated as a murder inquiry, the police have said.
Arthur McElhill, Lorraine McGovern and their five children are thought to have been killed in Tuesday's blaze.Arthur McElhill, Lorraine McGovern and their five children are thought to have been killed in Tuesday's blaze.
Detective Chief Superintendent Norman Baxter said the inquiry was at an early stage and appealed for information.Detective Chief Superintendent Norman Baxter said the inquiry was at an early stage and appealed for information.
"This is one of the most tragic and devastating murder inquiries the PSNI has to date had to encounter," he said."This is one of the most tragic and devastating murder inquiries the PSNI has to date had to encounter," he said.
He said a significant quantity of an accelerant, petrol, had been found in the house.He said a significant quantity of an accelerant, petrol, had been found in the house.
Five bodies have been found in the house at Lammy Crescent. The search for the remaining two members of the family is ongoing.Five bodies have been found in the house at Lammy Crescent. The search for the remaining two members of the family is ongoing.
The bodies have not yet been taken from the house.The bodies have not yet been taken from the house.
A senior fire investigator is being flown in from England to assist with the investigation.A senior fire investigator is being flown in from England to assist with the investigation.
Earlier on Wednesday, Fire Service Western Area Commander Eoin Doyle said their priority was finding the two people "not yet accounted for".Earlier on Wednesday, Fire Service Western Area Commander Eoin Doyle said their 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.
Prayers were said for the family during a church servicePrayers were said for the family during a church service
"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 Corlough 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.