THE MAN BEING questioned by Gardaí in connection with yesterday’s house fire in Mahon in Cork City – in which a 25-year-old woman and her 5-year-old nephew were killed – has had his detention period extended by a Chief Superintendent.

The man, who was arrested yesterday afternoon, may now be held until 8pm this evening before Gardaí must either formally charge him or allow him to be released.

It was reported this morning that one of the two victims of the blaze had only moved into the destroyed house last week because she was being attacked at her council house.

Today’s Irish Daily Star reported that Helena O’Dwyer, 25, had only moved back into the home owned by her parents Joe and Helena within the past few days, after being assaulted at her council house only a week ago.

Patrick O’Connell wrote that O’Dwyer had also been receiving threatening and abusive text messages – and says that the man who has been arrested in connection with the suspected arson attack on the house on Nutley Avenue.

Helena and her nephew Ryan died after they were unable to escape the fire in the house, which broke out at around 3:15am yesterday morning.

Read more on the fire in today’s Irish Daily Star >