The white walls of Dan and Bernadette O'Boyles brand new home betray little of the fire which took two of their daughters from them. Anne Marie O'Boyle (12) and Catherine (8) died from the effects of smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in their home at Cargin Road near Toomebridge, Co Antrim.
Another sister, Teresa (3), and a friend were yesterday listed as critical in hospital but were said to be making progress. The O'Boyles's eldest child, James (17), suffered smoke inhalation fighting the fire but was said to be stable.
The family had lived in a mobile home on the site for years while they built their dream house looking over Lough Neagh. They had only moved in last September.
At about 2 p.m. on Sunday, Mr and Mrs O'Boyle went out to buy sweets and ice cream for a small birthday party they were to hold for Anne Marie that evening.
James had lit the living room fire. Neighbours said they thought that as he was getting more coal, some papers and then furniture began to burn. He extinguished the blaze with a garden hose. However, the children upstairs were terrified by the acrid smoke and ringing fire alarms. All but one stayed upstairs where they had been playing and became trapped there.
A farmer half a mile away was alerted by the alarm and ran with his sons to the house. They used the family's tractor and ladders to break the window and remove the four children. The fire service arrived quickly and had called for paramedics. The children were taken to Antrim Area Hospital where Anne Marie was pronounced dead soon after arrival. Catherine died at about midday yesterday.
Local parish priest Father Paddy McWilliams said Anne Marie was a "lovely wee girl. She was the typical eldest daughter in the family who took charge and was mummy to the rest of the wee ones."