A teenage victim of the Omagh fire tragedy died after she had made an emergency call for help to the fire service, the PSNI said yesterday.
The body of Caroline (13) was found in the remains of the McElhill-McGovern home at the end of Lammy Crescent with a phone in one hand and rosary beads in the other.
Det Chief Supt Norman Baxter, the head of Serious Crime Branch, said in a lengthy statement that she had died while trying to avert the tragedy and that she would be nominated for a posthumous bravery award.
The police statement, by far the most detailed since the murder inquiry was begun in the aftermath of the blaze, said: "The investigation team have established that Caroline, at 13 years of age, had the presence of mind and bravery to seek help from the emergency services to save her family.
"Caroline was recovered with her telephone in one hand and her rosary beads in her other hand. This was a young girl, an emblem of innocence, with the courage to seek help and turning to her faith in the midst of fear and danger."
Det Chief Supt Baxter added: "It is my intention at the appropriate time to acknowledge Caroline's actions in seeking help for her family by nominating her for a posthumous award in recognition of her courage."
Police have now confirmed they are not looking for anyone else in their investigation of the tragedy and have established that the fire could not have been started from outside the end-of-terrace home.
They said the fire began after accelerant was spread in the hallway and lounge area prior to being set alight at the bottom of the stairs.
Despite declaring that no one else is being sought in connection with the criminal investigation, the PSNI has still not named any suspects. Comments made by the Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Orde, shortly after the blaze that investigators are examining "up to seven murders" still stand.
Following Mgr Joseph Donnelly's criticisms of aspects of the media coverage of the tragedy at the funeral Mass on Saturday, the PSNI moved decisively to reject speculation and allegations which have surrounded the case for more than two weeks. They denied that any of the victims had been forcibly restrained or that they died in a single room.
The statement complained that elements of the media had "deviated into unhelpful speculation with the publication of rumour and gossip presented in a sensational and graphic manner". It added that this approach had been unhelpful to the police investigators "who are trying to obtain evidence from witnesses in an untainted environment". This evidence will eventually be given to the coroner.