Mother survives blaze that kills husband, daughters

A YOUNG mother was last night being comforted by friends after a fire killed her husband and two children.

Michelle Walls was the only survivor of the blaze that destroyed her Dundalk home, killing husband Eddie and daughters Natasha, three, and 18-month-old Theresa.

Mrs Walls managed to escape the fire by jumping out an upper window at the front of the two-storey house. Neighbours who raised the alarm after seeing smoke coming from a downstairs window attempted to get into the house to save Mr Walls and the children but could not get past the intense heat, smoke and flames.

The 22-year-old survivor was taken to Dundalk hospital. She was unharmed but was treated for shock.

Three fire engines from Dundalk were at the scene within minutes of the alarm being raised at 1.30am. But by that time the fire had already almost completely destroyed the building.

A forensic examination of the scene was carried out yesterday by a garda technical team in tandem with fire service investigators.

Inspector Jim Sheridan, from Dundalk station, said the fire likely started in a downstairs room. He said it was too early to give the exact cause but it is not believed to have been started maliciously.

Neighbours described the Walls as a "lovely" family. The couple had returned home from a christening party in the adjoining house in the Castleross estate a short time before the fire broke out. Mr Walls celebrated his 38th birthday on Saturday.

Mr Walls' body was discovered in a back bedroom of the house while the two children were found in one of the front rooms. Post mortems were carried out on the bodies yesterday.

In a second tragedy yesterday, a two-year-old girl died after being knocked down by a car as she walked with her mother and younger sister along the footpath of a street in Drogheda. Witnesses told gardaí the female driver, who had a number of children with her, appeared to lose control of the vehicle as she turned into Duke Street. The car went onto a footpath, then crossed the road and mounted the other pavement, striking the young girl.