A fallen candle is thought to have started a fire in which Mr Johnny Dolan (78) and his daughter Susan (28) died in the early hours of Christmas morning. They had lit candles after storms cut off power to their cottage at Newrath, Dromiskin, Co Louth.
Gardai said a passing motorist tried to rescue them after spotting the flames in a front room of the cottage. He first attempted to kick in the front door and when that failed he ran to the back of the building.
There he found a very distressed Mrs Teresa Dolan, who told him her husband and daughter were still inside. He tried a number of times to reach them but was driven back by the fire.