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Baby Among 10 Dead In Traveller Site Fire

Baby Among 10 Dead In Traveller Site Fire

Forensic examinations are continuing at the travellers site in Carrickmines, South Dublin, where a fire killed 10 people from the same family.

A five-month-old baby and four other children are among 10 victims.

All of those who died are from one extended family.

Six fire crews and three ambulances were sent to the scene at Carrickmines at about 4am on Saturday.

Dublin Fire Brigade tweeted there were "a number of fatalities on scene" and that two adults and two children had been taken to hospital.

One of these youngsters, aged just five months, later died, a Garda spokesman said.

Ireland's President Michael D Higgins said he was shocked and saddened to learn of the deaths, adding: "This is a most dreadful tragedy."

It is understood the fire was at a permanent structure, not a caravan or mobile home.

A local resident told The Herald the victims were from three generations of the same family living on the site, including grandchildren understood to be under the age of seven.

Sinn Fein councillor Chris Curran told Independent.ie the family were "well-known and well-liked".

"It certainly seems that the poor family in this case that has been affected have been living in this area for a very long time, certainly in my knowledge.

"An awful lot of people would have known them.

"They would have been well-liked and well-known."

Distressed neighbours and friends have laid bunches of flowers at the site of the fire on Glenamuck Road.

Parish priest Father Derek Farrell, who has been to see those affected by the tragedy, told Sky News: "It's hard to put into words the loss they've endured.

"We're dealing with one family, one extended family, and that's an enormous burden for one group to bear."