Father-of-six and teenager die in house inferno

ONE of the two men who lost their lives in a fire in Donegal early yesterday was a father of six children.

The remains of Patsy McGinley, 34, was recovered from the ground floor of a house in Rathmullen.

A native of nearby Milford, his youngest child was born two weeks ago.

Another man, Paul McLoughlan, 19, who lived in the seaside village along the shores of Lough Swilly also died in the fire in which a father and son were among three others who escaped unharmed.

Locals said both men were work friends engaged in the mussel industry in Lough Swilly. Firemen recovered the bodies around 8am.

Shocked neighbours in Abbeyview housing estate said a number of men had returned to the rented property for a few drinks after a night out in the village.

The alarm was raised around 7.20am. Three people fled the two-storey house which was completely gutted on the ground floor before units of the fire service arrived.

Gardaí, who completed a forensic examination yesterday afternoon, immediately ruled out foul play.

Parish priest Fr Francis McAteer administered the Last Rites at the scene. “Everyone locally is shocked and their hearts go out to the families involved,” he said.

The village, on the shore of Lough Swilly about eight miles north of Letterkenny, was packed over the bank holiday weekend with holiday revellers.

“Everyone is numb with shock,” said Donegal TD Niall Blaney, after a visit to the village.

“I haven’t spoken to the distraught families, but the community is just devastated. People are in complete shock.

“There’s about 600 permanent residents in the village and everyone knows everyone. It’s a very close-knit area.

“One of the two men, a teenager, is a native of the village and his tragic loss has shocked everybody.”

The three people who escaped unharmed were treated for shock in Letterkenny General Hospital.

Gardaí in nearby Milford, who are conducting an investigation, are hoping to speak today to the men.

The fire-ravaged house, with its roof still intact yesterday, was in the middle of a small group of terrace of houses. Locals said the men had probably returned to the house for a few drinks.

Two units of Letterkenny Fire Brigade were at the scene within a short period. Fireman, using breathing apparatus, recovered the two bodies from the ground floor.

Heartbroken family members last night positively identified the remains.

Locals said the launch of a cross-water ferry service from Buncrana has helped to boost the weekend population of the tiny village.