The fire in which two children died in Oldcastle, Co Meath, has been described by Garda Supt Jim Ward of Kells as a "tragic accident".
Eight-year-old Ann Marie Fitzsimons and her sister Michelle (4), died in a fire which broke out in their home just after midnight. Their parents, Ailish and John, and siblings, Christine (16), John (14), twins Niamh and Aoife (3) were taken to Cavan General Hospital where they are being treated for smoke inhalation and burns.
Ms Fitzsimons, who was in intensive care yesterday, was "comfortable and in a stable condition", according to a spokesman for the North Eastern Health Board. She is expected to be in hospital for some time. The children remained in hospital last night and their condition would be reviewed today, Supt Ward said.
Mr Fitzsimons, who is a lorry driver, was discharged yesterday morning.
Mr Patrick Galligan, a neighbour who attempted to rescue the children, was also taken to Cavan General Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
The cause of the fire had yet to be determined, said Supt Ward. Garda forensic experts were examining the scene.
Blackened and broken windows and gaping holes in the roof bore silent witness to the tragedy which had struck the small rural community of Ballinvally, about two miles outside Oldcastle. The white-walled house is situated up a lane, close to the Loughcrew cairns.
A shocked neighbour said she was woken by Christine Fitzsimons at about 12.10 a.m. "She was barefoot and in her nightclothes. She had got out the window. I gave her clothes and ran down with her. Her mother had the twins out and she thought the other two children were following her.
"They slept in the same room, but Shelley [Michelle] hid under the bed and Ann Marie had covered herself with a duvet on the top bunk. Nobody could see them. The fire was out of control at that stage."
Neighbours and their children yesterday tried to piece together the events of the night. "Ann Marie was very excited about making her First Communion soon," one woman said. "She'd run out and talk to you about the dress . . . and the money she hoped to make. She was very pretty. Shelley was nearly five. She would have been five in a few days' time.
"Ailish was in shock but didn't seem to be badly burned. I gave her some shoes . . . they were all in their nightclothes."
The parish priest, Father Eugene Conlan, said he was called to the scene at 12.15 a.m. and, at that stage, it was still hoped that the girls had escaped.
"It was impossible to find them with the smoke and chaos in a burning building. When we did . . . it doesn't bear description. This is the worst tragedy I have ever seen.
"I've been 17 years in the parish and the whole community is absolutely shocked. Ann Marie was a lovely outgoing youngster, full of fun. She'd come running to talk to you."
Father Conlan paid tribute to the neighbours who had rushed to the scene to provide help. "It's a close-knit community. The neighbours were tremendous."
Funeral arrangements had yet to be determined, he said.
Oldcastle shopkeeper Mr Jim Devlin said the Fitzsimons were a lovely family. The children were in and out from the nearby school, he said.
"Everybody is very sad."