by Adrian Mullan
JUST as the sixth month anniversary of the Omagh tragedy in which seven members of the same family perished in a fire was drawing close, a tragedy with frightening similarities to the Lammy fire has shocked the community of Enniscorthy Co. Wexford.
On Saturday past, in Enniscorthy 41-year-old Dermot Flood, and his 38-year old wife, Lorraine, were found dead at their home. Both were found to have massive head injuries, but though a legally held shotgun was discovered at the scene - Gardai would not confirm if the pair died as a result of gun shot wounds.
The couple had two children Mark, aged six and Julie aged five, who are thought to have subsequently perished in the fire which destroyed their home.
In November, at Lammy, Lorraine McGovern and her partner, Arthur McElhill and their five children; Caroline (13), Sean (7) Bellina (4) Clodagh (18 months) and baby James who was just nine months old died in an arson attack their home.
Police treated the deaths as murder as traces of a large quantity of accelerant, namely, petrol was discovered within the home. It is widely believed that McElhill, who had double convictions for sexual assaults on females, started the fire which killed the family. Young local men tried to break into the house to effect a rescue but although they could see Arthur McElhill and hear Lorraine McGovern, they were unable to coax McElhill out and were eventually beaten back by the flames.
After a day or so police announced that the deaths were, in fact, mass murder, however, while they never formally declared Arthur McElhill a suspect, they indicated that they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the tragedy which shocked the country.
As was the case in the Lammy incident, neighbours at Enniscorthy broke windows as they tried to save the family before fire-fighters arrived but to no avail.
A Gardai spokesperson said that there were no obvious traces of petrol in the remains of the home, however, their forensic examinations are continuing. It is speculated upon that both the Lammy incident and this latest tragedy in Co. Wexford were, what are now being commonly referred to as 'murder-suicides.'
Omagh West community worker, Gerry McCusker said that the committee of his group will be meeting this evening to discuss what help can be offered to the community of Enniscorthy following the incident.
Mr McCusker said he was almost overwhelmed when he read reports of the Wexford tragedy on Sunday, "It was like deja vu. We were all hoping after the Lammy fire that no-one would ever have to go through the likes of this again, and then we hear of this. Obviously we send our condolences to the community in Enniscorthy. But it is hard to believe that this has happened again."
An enquiry team which includes members of the PSNI, Social Services and medical staff was set up following the Lammy fire and led by Henry Toner QC. It is believed that that team will issue a report by mid- May.
