Updated at 5.55pm
THE TWO MEN who died in a fire in Macroom Co Cork early this morning have been named locally as Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Relihan and Noel O’Mahony.
Both men died in a house fire in the early hours of this morning at St Coleman’s Park.
A woman who was in the house jumped from an upstairs window. She has been taken to Cork University Hospital and her injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
Gardaí and fire services were called to the scene at St Coleman’s Park at around 4am this morning.
The fire was brought under control and the bodies of the two men discovered in the house.
They were pronounced dead at the scene and their bodies have been removed to CUH where a post mortem examination will be carried out.
Kenneth was aged in his 20s and Noel was aged in his 60s.
It is believed that the woman who escaped from the house was Kenneth’s mother, and that he was living in the house at the time.
The fire
A man who helped save the woman from the fire has spoken to RTÉ News about the incident.
(If you can’t watch the video, tap here)
Tim Coleman said that he had been in his house when his friend came in to tell him that there was a fire at the house across the road.
He ran across to try to enter the house, but the smoke was too much and he had to leave.
He then saw the woman screaming from the upstairs window, and climbed a ladder that had been brought to try to help her.
“I told her, either she jumps or she’ll be in there with the rest of them basically,” he said.
She jumped and hit the floor and I jumped down off the ladder and I picked her up and put her on the wall.
Tim tried to enter the house again but could only get up the second step of the stairs because of the fire.
I could hear screaming at that stage so I said I couldn’t do anymore.
“A huge tragedy”
Local councillor Ted Lucy said that the entire area was “numbed” by the events.
“It’s a huge tragedy,” he said.
It’s complete shock to the community and people are numbed.
The scene is sealed off and a technical examination of the area is taking place.
Gardaí say that early indications suggest that the fire started accidentally.
Gardaí are appealing to witnesses to contact them at Macroom Garda Station on 026 20590.
- With reporting from Cormac Fitzgerald
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