Fire tragedy father leaves hospital

A father injured in a devastating house fire which claimed the lives of three of his sons tonight left hospital.

Parents of 11, Anthony and Kathleen McDonagh escaped from the fire at their home on the Moneymore estate in Drogheda, Co Louth, in which brothers James, aged six, 15-year-old Anthony Junior and Martin, aged 22 perished.

Mr and Mrs McDonagh were brought to St James’ hospital in Dublin, from where Anthony left this afternoon.

He had been treated in the burns unit.

Kathleen remains in intensive care, although her injuries are being described as not life threatening.

Their teenage son Eddie, aged around 13, remains in Temple Street Children’s Hospital where he is said to be in a stable condition.

Heroic neighbours tried in vain to save the siblings as the inferno swept through the mid-terrace home at 8am yesterday.

Of the six McDonagh children who still live at home, three were killed, one jumped from through a window to the garden as his clothes caught fire, and two young girls were staying with relatives for the night.