20/10/2011

Arson Charge Follows Fatal Boyle Blaze

A 33-year-old man has been charged in connection with a house fire in Roscommon that claimed the life of a five year-old girl.

John Lynch with an address at Church View in Boyle was charged with committing arson at Termon Road in the town on 3 October.

He was remanded in custody to appear again at Harristown District Court tomorrow.

The fatal blaze broke out at a property on Termon Road, Boyle on October 3 and the alarm was raised at around 3am.

Garda investigating the fatal house fire in Boyle believed that the fire was started maliciously.

Five-year-old Mari Connolly died in the blaze. Her father Richard, believed to be in his 40s, and her two sisters, aged six and eight, escaped from the home.

With the two children in his arms Richard jumped from a second storey window to escape the blaze.

It is understood that father sustained serious back injuries. They were all taken to Sligo General Hospital.

(LB/BMcC)

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