An investigation is continuing into the cause of a fire in Co Mayo yesterday in which a couple in their 60s died.
The couple, named locally as Tom and Eileen Mahon, who were both in their 60s, died in the fire at their home in Deerpark, in Swinford, in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Gardaí and local fire service personnel spent much of yesterday monitoring the smouldering ruins of the two storey house, as efforts to determine what caused the fire progressed.
Emergency services were alerted to the blaze at around 2am yesterday morning and several units from the Mayo Fire Service spent a number of hours bringing the situation under control.
The couple were well known, having operated a business in Swinford for several years.
Local Fianna Fáil councillor Adrian Forkan said the sadness in the region was compounded by a similar tragedy in nearby Kiltimagh, two weeks ago, when a woman in her 90s died in a house fire.
Cllr Forkan paid tribute to the first responders, who he said volunteered their services in the face of having to encounter such occurrences in their own communities.
The Cathaoirleach of the Mayo County Council said yesterday was one of the darkest ever seen in the county.
Michael Loftus said it had been "a horrifically black day for Co Mayo", following the deaths of Mr and Mrs Mahon in Swinford and those of a woman and two girls in a car crash in Claremorris.
He said the hearts of people in the region went out to the bereaved families.
