Fatal Tyrone fire 'started deliberately': Police

Whoever started a deliberate fire which killed an elderly widow and her daughter may not have meant to hurt them, police said.

Betty McGirr, 71, and Deirdre McGirr, 38, died on Saturday night when the blaze ripped through their top-floor flat in Dunlea Vale, Dungannon, Co Tyrone.

Betty McGirr was visiting her daughter when the blaze started at the back of the house at about 10pm.

A third person, Portuguese and understood to be Deirdre’s partner, escaped unhurt. He was in a long-term relationship with her and is not suspected of involvement with the fire, police said.

PSNI detective chief inspector Gareth Talbot appealed to the arsonist: “It may not have been your intention to hurt anyone or things may have got out of control.

“I would ask you to search your conscience, consider the feelings of the McGirr family – please let them have some kind of closure around this and come forward to us and tell us what happened.”

Post mortems on the bodies were carried out yesterday.

DCI Talbot added: “We now believe this fire was deliberate and are working to ascertain the exact details.”

He was holding a briefing at Dungannon police station.

The senior detective said investigators were not treating it as a murder inquiry at present, instead keeping an open mind.

“How a 36-year-old man managed to get out of the building was nothing short of miraculous, that he managed to escape the flames,” he said.

He added: “This man was lucky to escape with his life and he is not suspected of any involvement with the fire.”

The blaze started towards the back of the building, he confirmed.

Sinn Féin Councillor Bronwyn McGahan said: “The community was already in shock at the death of these two women but given the news today that the PSNI are now treating the fire as arson that shock has now turned to anger.

“The loss of a mother and daughter is a terrible burden to be inflicted upon a family and my thoughts are with them at this time.”

Dungannon area commander chief inspector Jane Humphries said the community had been devastated by the deaths.

“The impact of a tragedy of this nature is not something we underestimate and we would like to reassure the community that we are doing everything in our power,” she said.

She thanked local residents for their patience and help.

Floral tributes from friends and relatives have been left at the scene.

One said: “In memory of good neighbours Betty and Deirdre McGirr. Rest in peace.”

Dungannon parish priest Dean Colum Curry has spoken of the shock in the community.

Yesterday he said: “People are bewildered and very shocked that a tragedy like this could happen.”

Betty McGirr had been in ill health and lived at Dunlea Vale for decades. Her husband Pat died many years ago.

Her two other daughters are Eileen Scullion and Roisin Hamilton.