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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Fire theory 'devastates' family | Fire theory 'devastates' family |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A priest has said the family of a woman who died in a fire along with her five children are devastated at the news her partner could have started the blaze. | A priest has said the family of a woman who died in a fire along with her five children are devastated at the news her partner could have started the blaze. |
| Arthur McElhill also died in the fire at the house in Omagh on Tuesday. | Arthur McElhill also died in the fire at the house in Omagh on Tuesday. |
| Father Tom McManus said the family is having difficulty comprehending the fact that Mr McElhill may be a suspect. | Father Tom McManus said the family is having difficulty comprehending the fact that Mr McElhill may be a suspect. |
| "The news itself was so devastating for them they are just coming to terms with the fact this is a possibility," Fr McManus said. | "The news itself was so devastating for them they are just coming to terms with the fact this is a possibility," Fr McManus said. |
| "The state they are at, it just hit them like a bolt. They are dreading what they are going to hear next." | "The state they are at, it just hit them like a bolt. They are dreading what they are going to hear next." |
| 'Treated as murder' | |
| Petrol had been scattered around the house in Lammy Crescent and it had been set alight. | Petrol had been scattered around the house in Lammy Crescent and it had been set alight. |
| Police have not formally declared anyone a suspect, but it is understood one theory being investigated is that Mr McElhill may have been responsible. | Police have not formally declared anyone a suspect, but it is understood one theory being investigated is that Mr McElhill may have been responsible. |
| The bodies of the family of seven are expected to be removed from the ruins of their home later and forensic examinations of the scene are to continue. | The bodies of the family of seven are expected to be removed from the ruins of their home later and forensic examinations of the scene are to continue. |
| Post mortem examinations are expected to be carried out on the bodies within the next 24 hours, the PSNI said at 1545 GMT on Thursday. | |
| Police said on Thursday that all seven deaths were being treated as murder and they would not be commenting on the specifics of the investigation. | Police said on Thursday that all seven deaths were being treated as murder and they would not be commenting on the specifics of the investigation. |
| Community worker Gerry McCusker said Thursday would be a difficult day. | Community worker Gerry McCusker said Thursday would be a difficult day. |
| "When the bodies are being removed, it is hoped that we will pay a prayer tribute to the family," he said. | "When the bodies are being removed, it is hoped that we will pay a prayer tribute to the family," he said. |
| The burnt-out shell of the house in Omagh | The burnt-out shell of the house in Omagh |
| 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. |
| Sean, 7, and Bellina, 4, were pupils at St Conor's Primary School and the two youngest were Clodagh, 19 months, and James, who was nine months old. | Sean, 7, and Bellina, 4, were pupils at St Conor's Primary School and the two youngest were Clodagh, 19 months, and James, who was nine months old. |
| Schoolfriends of Sean and Bellina at St Conor's are receiving counselling. | Schoolfriends of Sean and Bellina at St Conor's are receiving counselling. |
| Katriona McGettigan, whose St Conor's Primary School is beside the burnt-out ruins, said: "The children are very beautiful children. We remember them very fondly, they were a joy to teach. | Katriona McGettigan, whose St Conor's Primary School is beside the burnt-out ruins, said: "The children are very beautiful children. We remember them very fondly, they were a joy to teach. |
| "I would have only positive memories." | "I would have only positive memories." |
| Mr McElhill worked as a stockman for James Crammond, who owns a farm just off the Dublin Road on the outskirts of Omagh. | Mr McElhill worked as a stockman for James Crammond, who owns a farm just off the Dublin Road on the outskirts of Omagh. |
| "I would be totally amazed if they suspected Arthur," Mr Crammond said. | "I would be totally amazed if they suspected Arthur," Mr Crammond said. |
| "He spent a lot of time looking after his family, some of them were not very well, heart murmurs, child problems. | "He spent a lot of time looking after his family, some of them were not very well, heart murmurs, child problems. |
| "They seemed fairly close. He worked for me for five to six years when he was fit. He was a very capable worker when he was fit." | "They seemed fairly close. He worked for me for five to six years when he was fit. He was a very capable worker when he was fit." |