A tragedy occurred on the outskirts of Swinford, County Mayo, in the early hours of Tuesday: a devastating house fire in Deerpark led to the loss of a couple. Local residents identified the victims, Tom and Eileen Mahon, a beloved pair who operated a family-oriented retail venture in town offering furniture, carpets, and blinds.
The couple have two daughters, fortunately not present in the residence when the fatal fire broke out. The way the couple perished has greatly impacted the community, leaving many in a state of disbelief and sorrow.
One individual, who declined to give their name, was on the brink of tears while labelling the loss of the Mahons as “utterly heart-wrenching” and observing the evident shock etched on the faces of the locals.
Emergency brigade units arrived to find the upper section of the detached house already engulfed in flames. The couple were declared deceased at the scene and subsequently transported to Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar for postmortem investigations.
The Garda, as part of their preliminary investigation, cordoned off the fire-stricken residence to commence a thorough forensic inspection. Despite the nascent stage of their investigation, the officers have stated that there appears to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire incident.
John Caulfield, a member of the local Fianna Fáil council, brings to mention that this marks the second fire-related disaster that has befallen the area within the month. Only on March 11th, a nonagenarian named Mary McNicholas lost her life to a blaze in her home in Kiltimagh, not too distant from Swinford.
Councillor Caulfield commented on how the loss of the Mahons has shocked and saddened the community: “Tom and Eileen were highly respected and recognised businesspeople.”