The seven victims of last week's Omagh fire tragedy all died from smoke inhalation, postmortems have found.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said at the weekend: "The postmortem examinations of all seven bodies have been completed. The results indicate that the initial cause of death was smoke inhalation."
The statement appears to refute claims that something happened to end the lives of Arthur McElhill, his partner Lorraine McGovern and five children - Caroline (13), Seán (7), Bellina (4) Clodagh, (19 months) and James (9 months) - before fire engulfed their end of terrace home on the outskirts of the Co Tyrone town. Reports that Ms McGovern was pregnant at the time of her death have also been discounted.
Independent councillor and former firefighter Paddy Magowan said: "If there was no one external involved in it then it doesn't ease the pain any more for the relatives.
"Certainly it is a very painful situation, fire takes many angles, but smoke inhalation is very dangerous."
All seven bodies had been taken to Belfast on Thursday last for the postmortem examinations. It is understood they were carried out by a specialist pathologist who had travelled to Northern Ireland from England specifically to deal with the case.
Despite the proliferation of rumour concerning the circumstances leading up to the blaze at the Lammy Crescent home in the early hours of last Tuesday, the police have offered little clarification of events prior to the fire other than to insist that all lines of inquiry remain open.
"Police inquiries will be continuing," a PSNI spokeswoman said. "It would be inappropriate to comment as this is a live investigation."
Mr McElhill's family was reported yesterday to have referred to some reporting of the tragedy as "inaccurate and hurtful".
Reports have referred to the dead man's criminal record, his mental health, as well as to allegations concerning the placement of another child with the family by social services.
The PSNI has also requested journalists to employ caution in their reporting.
Senior officers, including Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde and the head of the inquiry in Omagh, Det Chief Supt Norman Baxter, continue to insist they are treating the tragedy as a case "of up to seven murders".