Man charged with setting Inishbofin fire refused bail

A 25-year-old man, who has been charged in connection with the Inisboffin house fire, which claimed the lives of three sisters, had an application for bail refused at Galway District Court this morning. Alan Murphy, with an address at Clifden, has been remanded in custody until 21 July on a charge of the unlawful killing of Eileen Coyne, and with setting fire to the house in which the three woman died.

Garda Superintendent, Michael Curley, opposed the bail application on the grounds that Murphy was not from the jurisdiction and did not have a permanent address in this country. He said that he had lived outside the island for six of the last eight years. Judge John Garavin refused the bail request, but said Murphy could still apply to the High Court.

Earlier this morning a ferry took the remains of 76-year-old Bridget McFadden from Inishboffin to the mainland fishing port of Cleggan. Mrs. McFadden's coffin was accompanied by relatives and by Inishbofin's catholic curate Fr. Declan Carroll. He is travelling to England to represent the island community at the funeral in Slough near London on Wednesday afternoon; a communion service will be held on Inishboffin at the same time