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Portmarnock residents today wept and remembered the couple who tragically died in a fire in the coastal town of Dublin last night.
The couple, who left behind several children and grandchildren, were fondly remembered at the midday mass.
Locals, including the couple’s adult children, watched helplessly last night as emergency services tackled the flames.
The parish priest of Portmarnock told mass attendees in the united community that he visited the home this morning, where he prayed for the remains of the tragic couple.
Canon John Flaherty said he only heard the terrible news when he woke up this morning.
He went up to the house, which is only a five-minute walk from his own home, to pay his respects, describing the heartbreaking scene, where a “lonely Garda” was standing outside the house.
He asked the parishioners to pray for the popular grandparents and their families; and also paid tribute to the emergency services.
Parishioners, returning to Mass for the first time since lockdown restrictions were relaxed earlier this week, spoke of their shock and sadness at the news.
“However, we heard firefighters approaching, but we assumed they were heading towards Malahide,” one told Dublin Live.
Another said that there was a “thick cloud of smoke in the town” last night.
They added: “We all heard about the fire and knew it was in Beach Park. But it was only this morning that we learned that the couple had died, it’s incredibly sad. Shocking.
“My son knows some of his children; There would not be a family in Portmarnock that does not know some members of the family or is not related to them in some way.
“The whole community is in shock.”
Another Portmarnock resident said: “It’s a terrible, horrible end to a terrible year. Everyone is devastated. The poor family. The neighborhood is heartbroken. “
The tragic discovery was made last night after firefighters managed to fight the flames that had engulfed the house. It is understood that the fire broke out shortly after 9:30 p.m.
Gardai has said that they are investigating all the circumstances and that an autopsy will be conducted.
They have called for any witnesses who can help with the investigation to come forward.
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