This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7097157.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Blaze bodies removed from scene | Blaze bodies removed from scene |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The bodies of a family of seven who died a fire in Omagh have been removed from the ruins of their home. | The bodies of a family of seven who died a fire in Omagh have been removed from the ruins of their home. |
| Arthur McElhill, his partner Lorraine McGovern and their five children, perished in the blaze at their home in Lammy Crescent on Tuesday. | Arthur McElhill, his partner Lorraine McGovern and their five children, perished in the blaze at their home in Lammy Crescent on Tuesday. |
| It is understood Mr McElhill is being regarded as a suspect. | It is understood Mr McElhill is being regarded as a suspect. |
| A prayer vigil was held and teachers and firefighters formed a guard of honour as the bodies were removed. A priest spoke of the community's sorrow. | A prayer vigil was held and teachers and firefighters formed a guard of honour as the bodies were removed. A priest spoke of the community's sorrow. |
| 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. |
| Father Tom McManus said Ms McGovern's family was devastated at the news. | Father Tom McManus said Ms McGovern's family was devastated at the news. |
| "The news itself was so devastating for them they are just coming to terms with the fact this is a possibility," he said. | "The news itself was so devastating for them they are just coming to terms with the fact this is a possibility," he 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." |
| The McElhill family persished in the blaze | The McElhill family persished in the blaze |
| 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 said that all seven deaths were being treated as murder and they would not be commenting on the specifics of the investigation. | Police said that all seven deaths were being treated as murder and they would not be commenting on the specifics of the investigation. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| Sex assault | |
| 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, of St Conor's Primary School which 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, of St Conor's Primary School which 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." |
| It emerged on Thursday that Arthur McElhill was jailed in April 1998 for sexually assaulting a young woman. | It emerged on Thursday that Arthur McElhill was jailed in April 1998 for sexually assaulting a young woman. |
| Although placed on the Sex Offenders' register, it is understood he was considered to be in the lowest risk category with little chance of re-offending. He had a similar previous conviction in 1994. | Although placed on the Sex Offenders' register, it is understood he was considered to be in the lowest risk category with little chance of re-offending. He had a similar previous conviction in 1994. |
| There is no suggestion at this stage that the convictions had any bearing on Tuesday's events. | There is no suggestion at this stage that the convictions had any bearing on Tuesday's events. |