A five-year-old girl was killed in a suspected arson attack at her father’s house just over a day after her mother gave birth to twins.
Marie Connolly was found dead in an upstairs bedroom of the home in Boyle, Co Roscommon after the blaze ripped through the terraced home in the middle of the night.
Her father Richard had been looking after her and her two sisters Lauren (8) and Naomi (6), who survived the fire.
The 27-year-old is believed to have leapt from a first floor window with the older girls in his arms.
Mr Connolly, described by locals and neighbours as popular and a devoted dad, shared the Termon Road house with his brother John.
Marie’s mother Teresa Keane, Mr Connolly’s former partner, gave birth to twin girls on Saturday and was only discharged today.
Gardaí believe the fire was started deliberately with initial inquires focused on whether the back door was forced open. No accelerant has been recovered, the gardaí said.
One line of inquiry being examined was whether there was a row earlier on Sunday night or on Saturday involving Mr Connolly’s brother and another man in Carrick-on-Shannon.
Ms Keane arrived at the scene of the tragedy this evening to leave a tribute of flowers and a picture of her child.
Roscommon Fire Service said the blaze broke out some time between 2.30am and 3am at Mr Connolly’s terraced home on Termon Road in Boyle town.
He suffered serious back injuries rescuing the girls and was transferred from Sligo General to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin for specialist treatment.
The girls were treated for smoke inhalation in Sligo General Hospital and released after a few hours.
About 20 firefighters responded to the call with tenders brought in from Boyle, Carrick-on-Shannon, Elphin.
They fought for several hours to bring the fire under control as it destroyed the roof, parts of the first floor collapsed and the stairs fell apart.
The Connollys are known well across Roscommon through their father, Richard Senior, and his work with the Irish National Darts Association and other family members playing sport including John, a former Boyle Celtic player and GAA.