Renowned local politician dies

CROSS-PARTY tributes were yesterday paid to a former Fine Gael councillor who tragically perished in a house fire in West Cork.

The body of Mary Burke, 87, a notable town council and county council public representative for many years, was found early yesterday in the gutted remains of her home at Millview Terrace, in Market Street, Skibbereen.

Four fire brigade units from Skibbereen, Schull and Bantry tackled the fire in the two-storey house for more than four hours before a rescue unit recovered the body. The remains were taken to Bantry General Hospital for a post-mortem examination.