‘Sadness’ and ‘numbness’ in Swinford following tragic fire in family home

SWINFORD has been plunged into ‘sadness’ and ‘numbness’ following the passing of two well-known local people in a fire at a family home. 

It is understood the two victims were a well known couple who ran a business in the East Mayo town. 

Local county councillor John Caulfield said that the Swinford community has been left numb by the tragedy and there has been an air of sadness in east Mayo all morning.

“The community is shocked and saddened to wake up to this news and the tragedy that has occurred. There is a numbness in the community this morning by the loss of life of two people who were very well known and respected. They operated a very successful business in the town and I had many dealings with them and they were a pleasure to deal with,” he said.

“There is a real air of sadness in Swinford this morning and talking to people in the town they cannot believe it. This comes just two weeks after the loss of life in a house fire in Kiltimagh and there is real shock in the community at what happened.”

The blaze occurred in a two-storey family home at Deerpark on the Kilkelly Road outside Swinford.

The house was extensively damaged by the time the local fire services brought the blaze under control after it was reported in the early hours of Tuesday morning Two bodies were then discovered in the house.

The scene has been preserved by An Garda Síochána. Investigators remain at the location to determine the cause of the fire. The discovery of the two bodies were also reported to the local coroner for investigation.