Man kills wife then self in Co Down fire

It is now thought the woman found dead at her home in Co Down last night had been murdered by her Co Donegal-born husband who also perished.

It is thought he killed himself after murdering her.

The full horror and tragedy of last night's fire near Kilkeel, Co Down, is only now emerging.

Anne McLaughlin lived in the house where she died with five of her seven children.

She was separated from her 39-year old husband David, a fisherman originally from Co Donegal.

Last night it is feared he came to the house, doused himself and his wife in petrol and set fire to them both.

When the fire brigade arrived at 9 o'clock, they found three children aged between four and 10 in a field outside the house in an extremely distressed state. They put out a small fire and found the two bodies.

The RUC only say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the fire and are treating it as suspicious.