Baby girl among at least 10 dead in fire on Dublin travellers’ site

At least 10 people, including a pregnant woman and a six-month-old baby girl, have died in a fire that broke out on a travellers’ site in south Dublin.

Those who died in the blaze on Glenamuck Road in Carrickmines included a husband and wife and five children, Irish police said. Two of the adult victims have been named as Thomas and Sylvia Connors, who died along with two of their three children. Chief Superintendent Diarmuid O’Sullivan said the children killed in the blaze were all under the age of 10.

Six units of the Dublin Fire Brigade and five ambulances attended the fire, which broke out in the early hours of Saturday morning. The brigade described the blaze it found at 4.34am as a “substantial and well-established fire scene”. It tweeted that two adults and two children had gone to hospital.

Although there is no evidence to suggest at this stage that the blaze was deliberately lit, the Garda Technical Bureau has sealed off the site and has started a forensic examination.

The brigade finished at the scene at 2pm, saying: “Our thoughts are with the families, friends and local community at this terribly sad time.”

The site is a temporary halt for travellers, consisting of portable homes and caravans. It is usually occupied by one extended family, but last night there were suggestions that several families were in residence.

The Irish President, Michael Higgins, said: “My thoughts at this time are with the families and friends of those who have lost their lives and those who have been injured.”

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams described the blaze as “horrific news”. The Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, said the news was heartbreaking for all in the traveller and wider local community, and asked for prayers.

The Fianna Fail leader, Micheal Martin, said: “This is an extremely shocking incident and I want to express my deepest sympathy to the families affected by this tragedy.”