THE GARDA have issued a description of two people they want to interview as possible witnesses to a suspected arson attack early last Sunday in which a five-year-old boy and his aunt died.
Ryan O’Dwyer Hayes, who was killed with his aunt Helena O’Dwyer (25) in Cork at the weekend, is to be buried tomorrow.
Ryan died alongside his aunt in the blaze at a house on Nutley Avenue in Mahon. Six other family members managed to escape from the house.
More than 500 people signed a book of condolences for the deceased, which was opened yesterday at Mahon Community Centre.
Lord mayor of Cork Michael O’Connell signed the book shortly after 2pm. A steady stream of people arrived throughout the day to add their signatures, offering messages of sympathy and support.
Local Sinn Féin councillor Chris O’Leary said: “The response from local people has been very good, the family have been inundated with offers of help and support. Ordinary people are buying bedding and household items to offer the family, but really we are asking that they might donate to the fund instead at the moment as there is an issue of storage for donated items.”
The community centre opens again this morning at 9.30am to allow for further signatures.
The family have asked that anyone with information contact gardaí to assist the investigation into the cause of the fire.
“The main message is to ask people to assist gardaí in their investigations. We cannot emphasise that enough,” Mr O’Leary said.
Officers investigating the incident said they were interested in talking to a number of possible witnesses who may be able to assist with the inquiry.
Two males were seen in the Rope Walk area of Blackrock, Cork, between 2am and 3am on Sunday, April 24th.
The first was described as wearing a hoodie-type top with the hood pulled over his head. The second was described as being stripped to the waist. Moreover, gardaí said they would like to talk to a middle-aged-couple seen walking on Nutley Road towards Ringmahon Road at about 3am on Sunday.
Officers said they would also like to talk to the driver or passenger(s) of a silver or light-coloured Toyota Avensis estate which may have been a taxi or hackney and was seen in the Blackrock Road-Convent Avenue area at about 2.50am on Sunday, April 24th.
Investigating officers are also appealing to anyone who was at the scene of the fire and may have recorded footage on their mobile phone, camcorder or other devise to contact them.
Witnesses who were in the locations mentioned, or who can assist with this investigation, are asked to contact the incident room at Anglesea Street on 021-4522000, the Garda confidential line on 1800-666 111 or any Garda station.
Ryan will be buried after a funeral ceremony in the North Cathedral, Cork.
His aunt Helena is due to be buried in a neighbouring plot on Saturday.