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29/11/2007
Omagh Fire Victims Funerals This Saturday
The victims of the Omagh fire tragedy, which killed all seven members of the McElhill family, are to be buried on Saturday.
Arthur McElhill, from Ederney, Co Fermanagh, Lorraine McGovern, from Bawnboy, Co Cavan, and the five children, Caroline (13), Shaun (7), Bellina (4), Clodagh (19 months) and James (nine months), died in the blaze which destroyed their home in Lammy Crescent, Omagh, earlier this month.
Following continued suspicions that the father, Arthur McElhill, set the fire that destroyed the family home - with them all trapped inside - it is understood the parents and five children of the McElhill family will be buried at separate locations.
Initial plans were for the seven to be laid to rest together, probably in Ederney, where Arthur McElhill's parents and some of his siblings still live.
But this changed following revelations that McElhill, a convicted sex abuser, is the chief suspect in the police investigation into the fire.
The place of burial of the seven victims has therefore been the subject of controversy, and has been mediated over several days last week.
The solution seems to be a funeral Mass for Arthur McElhill, Lorraine McGovern and their children being held at 10am at Sacred Heart Church in County Tyrone, followed by the separate interments.
See: Burial Of Tragic Omagh Fire Victims Delayed
(BMcC/JM)
Arthur McElhill, from Ederney, Co Fermanagh, Lorraine McGovern, from Bawnboy, Co Cavan, and the five children, Caroline (13), Shaun (7), Bellina (4), Clodagh (19 months) and James (nine months), died in the blaze which destroyed their home in Lammy Crescent, Omagh, earlier this month.
Following continued suspicions that the father, Arthur McElhill, set the fire that destroyed the family home - with them all trapped inside - it is understood the parents and five children of the McElhill family will be buried at separate locations.
Initial plans were for the seven to be laid to rest together, probably in Ederney, where Arthur McElhill's parents and some of his siblings still live.
But this changed following revelations that McElhill, a convicted sex abuser, is the chief suspect in the police investigation into the fire.
The place of burial of the seven victims has therefore been the subject of controversy, and has been mediated over several days last week.
The solution seems to be a funeral Mass for Arthur McElhill, Lorraine McGovern and their children being held at 10am at Sacred Heart Church in County Tyrone, followed by the separate interments.
See: Burial Of Tragic Omagh Fire Victims Delayed
(BMcC/JM)
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