Inquiry into jockey deaths continues

Racing: Forensic experts are carrying out a detailed examination today of a flat in Yorkshire where two teenage jockeys, including…

Racing:Forensic experts are carrying out a detailed examination today of a flat in Yorkshire where two teenage jockeys, including an Irish man, died in a suspected arson attack at the weekend.

Jamie Kyne (18) from Kiltrogue, Claregalway, Galway, died with another apprentice jockey, Jan Wilson (19) from Forfar in Scotland when fire ravaged the block of flats in which they were staying at Norton, close to their Malton training base in Yorkshire on Saturday morning.

About 60 firefighters battled the blaze at a building known as the Tannery which was used as accommodation for apprentice jockeys in Norton, a small village about 15km from Doncaster.

Police said scenes of crime officers and fire investigators were delayed in entering the block of flats because the blaze was so bad it had damaged the structure of the building.

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Their work in establishing the exact cause of the fire could take up to three days to complete.

Further searching of the flats was taking place to ensure there were no further casualties, although there were no reports of anyone missing.

Postmortem examinations are expected to be carried out today.

A local man, in his 30s, who was arrested shortly after the fire broke out at 2.15am, was released by police on conditional bail pending further inquiries.

Eyewitnesses said Mr Kyne and Miss Wilson were at a party when the fire broke out at Buckrose Court.

Their friend and fellow apprentice, Ian Brennan (20) from Dublin, jumped to safety when the fire started. He was released from hospital and went on to ride at Thirsk on Saturday.

Irish apprentice jockey Dean Pratt, was also taken to York District Hospital and treated for burns and smoke inhalation.

Mr Kyne was due to ride at Haydock on Saturday. Jockeys at that meeting observed a moment of silence and wore black armbands in memory of the deceased.

According to residents, about four or five people from the fire-affected block had been out on Friday night to celebrate getting their “pool money” from one of the local racehorse trainers.

He said they came back to the flats and continued to celebrate on the top floor, where Mr Kyne and Mr Brennan lived. There were six people in the block at the time - Mr Kyne, Miss Wilson, Mr Brennan, Mr Pratt, another man and another woman.