Police suspect arson in fatal fire at flats

POLICE NOW believe that a fire that claimed the lives of a Co Tyrone mother and her daughter was started deliberately. The PSNI has urged the person or persons who may have started the blaze to come forward.

Police yesterday appealed for public assistance in establishing who may have caused the fire in Dungannon on Saturday that killed Elizabeth McGirr (71) and her daughter Deirdre (38).

“We now believe this fire was deliberate and we are working to ascertain the exact details of what happened at this block of flats in Dunlea Vale,” said Det Chief Insp Gareth Talbot. “The fire was reported to police at 9.54pm on Saturday night. Police and the fire service attended but, unfortunately, Betty and Deirdre lost their lives.

“Another resident of the flat, a 36-year-old man, managed to get out of the building. It is nothing short of miraculous that he was able to escape the flames and we are fortunate that he survived,” he added.

“We are now working to piece together the events of Saturday night and, at this stage, we are keeping an open mind as to motive or reasoning behind the fire,” Chief Insp Talbot added.

Police said the man was in a long-term relationship with Deirdre McGirr. They said he was lucky to escape with his life and stressed he was “not suspected of any involvement with the fire”.

Chief Insp Talbot said he wanted to make a very specific appeal to the person or persons who started the fire.

“It may not have been your intention to hurt anyone or things may have got out of control. I would ask you to search your conscience, consider the feelings of the McGirr family – please let them have some kind of closure around this and come forward to us and tell us what happened.”

The PSNI local area commander, Chief Insp Jane Humphries, said people in Dungannon were devastated by the deaths.

“We would like to reassure the community that we are doing everything in our power to find out exactly what happened at Dunlea Vale,” she said.