Two sisters have died in a house fire in Co Donegal.
The two sisters, named locally as Jody (24) and Anngeline Brogan (28), died in the blaze in Letterkenny this morning.
The alarm was raised after the fire broke out at the house at Cannon View at Mountain Top at about 11am.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and found the two young women in one of the bedrooms.
One of them was understood to have died at the scene while the other was rushed to nearby Letterkenny General Hospital, but died a short time later.
A man who was sleeping at the back of the house escaped unhurt.
Gardaí sealed off the house as fire crews and Garda forensic officers carried out a full investigation.
Former Fianna Fáil minister Dr James McDaid, the local GP, was called to the scene after he got an emergency call to his offices at Scally Practise.
He said was shocked by the incident.
“It was just a horrific scene. That’s all I can say about it. My thoughts are with the family,” he said.
Local priest Fr Brian Quinn of the Church of the Irish Martyrs also attended the scene.
Other relatives of the women also gathered at the house as the news emerged.
The young women’s uncle, Frank Brogan, said: “I just can’t say anything at the moment. It’s just awful.”
Mayor of Letterkenny Cllr Pascal Blake said he was devastated at what happened. “It is just terrible news and my thoughts and prayers are with the family.
“It is just such a tragic start to the New Year and no family ever wants to hear this news. These two young women had their full lives to lives and for them to be cut down like this is just awful,” he said.