THE cause of a fire which claimed the lives of a mother and daughter has still not been established.
Yesterday, police officers continued to examine the scene in the Dunlea Vale area of Dungannon where Elizabeth McGirr, 71, and her 38-year-old daughter Deirdre McGirr died on Saturday night.
It is understood that the pensioner had been visiting her daughter when the fire started in the upstairs flat, which was left severely damaged by the blaze.
A man aged in his 30s escaped uninjured from the burning building.
Dungannon parish priest Fr Colum Curry said the town was still struggling to come terms with the deaths.
“People have just been left stunned by this terrible, terrible tragedy, and I know that very many people are praying for the family of the two women,” the senior cleric told the News Letter.
He added: “I don’t know the family personally but when you hear about something as awful as this, your heart goes out to those left behind.
“There have been no funeral arrangements as yet – that could take some time as the investigations continue into what happened.”
Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Lord Morrow said the tragedy would have a lasting impact on the people of Dungannon.
“The tragic deaths in Dungannon over the weekend cast a long, dark shadow over the entire town,” the DUP peer said.
“My first thoughts and sympathies are with the bereaved and there is no doubt this event will be long remembered in our town.
“I must say, when I first heard the news early on Sunday morning it was a great shock and whatever the circumstances surrounding this tragedy, the bottom line is that a mother and daughter have lost their lives.
“I want to pay tribute to the fire service who were quickly on the scene and I understand but for their swift actions, the fire could have spread to other properties.”
Lord Morrow said he had also spoken to senior PSNI officers investigating the blaze.
“It appears the cause of fire has not yet been established and investigations are continuing. I urge anyone who has any information to immediately make it available to police.”
Sinn Fein councillor Larry McLarnon said the sense of shock in the town has deepened in the days since the fire.
“Every person you meet is still in shock, no-one knows just what to say at the moment, they are all stunned,” he said.
Mr McLarnon, who visited the estate on Sunday, said he had spoken to Elizabeth McGirr’s brother.
“We are all thinking about what the family must be going through as they wait to find out what happened.
“I spoke briefly to the woman’s brother at the scene, he was in complete shock, you cannot imagine what it would be like to get news like that.
“This will also have been a very traumatic experience for everyone living in this peaceful estate and it has shocked everyone right across the town. It is a close-knit community and it has hit a lot of people very hard.”
