Gardai try to identify girls who died in derelict building fire

Gardai are checking the dental records of missing teenagers in an effort to identify the two girls killed while sleeping rough in a derelict building in Dublin at the weekend. The girls, both thought to be aged 16, from Cabra and Finglas, in north Dublin, died after the derelict premises on James's Street caught fire on Saturday morning.

Gardai say an identification of the girls has been delayed because of the extent of their burns.

Post-mortem examinations will be carried out this morning.

It is believed one of the teenagers had left home some time ago and had previously been in emergency accommodation.

The second girl had been living at home until recently.

The blaze was discovered shortly before 4 a.m. by a youth who had been with the girls earlier that night.

As he ran for help, gardai in a passing patrol car noticed smoke billowing from the building.

Four units of the Tara Street and Dolphin's Barn fire brigades were called but could not attempt a rescue because of the intensity of the blaze.

Fire fighters had to break down the steel door at the front of the building to gain access. They found the body of one girl on the floor of an open room and the other in a smaller side room.

It is believed the two had started a fire in the basement to keep warm.

Gardai said they did not believe the building - a former handbag factory - was being used as a squat by homeless people, although locals said it was frequented by youths.

Sgt Pat McCarthy, of Kilmainham station, said: "There are about four or five different places in the area which we would know, for certain, people are staying in. This would not be one of them."

A local woman, who did not want to be named, said young people could often be seen climbing into the building.

"There wasn't anyone sleeping there. But it was being used for hanging out and doing drugs and glue sniffing."

It is believed the teenagers gained access to the building through a gap in the roof as both doors were locked and the windows were bricked up.

Focus Ireland, the support agency for homeless people, said it was "deeply saddened" by the deaths.

Mr Michael Bruton, chief executive of the organisation, extended his "deepest sympathy to their family and friends".

"While the cause of their death remains unclear, it is of great concern to us in Focus Ireland that the rights of all children to a safe and secure home are paramount and that the State should ensure that all its services and actions work towards ensuring this right."

Earlier this month, the Eastern Health Board came under criticism from Focus Ireland for failing to provide enough accommodation for homeless children.

In the first half of this year, the Eastern Health Board's night social workers were asked to find emergency beds 1,599 times but could satisfy just over a third of requests.

The number of homeless children seeking out-of-hours services rose by 22 per cent in the first six months of this year, following an increase of almost 100 per cent last year.

Focus Ireland estimates that up to 17 children seek emergency accommodation in Dublin each night. There is a maximum of eight beds available.