Northern Ireland

Man charged with four counts of murder after Derrylin fire

The whitewashed rural bungalow near the border was destroyed in the blaze. Picture by Mal McCann
The whitewashed rural bungalow near the border was destroyed in the blaze. Picture by Mal McCann The whitewashed rural bungalow near the border was destroyed in the blaze. Picture by Mal McCann

A MAN held in connection with the Co Fermanagh house fire in which three generations of the same family died has been charged with their murders.

The 27-year-old, who was arrested at the scene of the blaze in Derrylin last Tuesday morning, is accused of four counts of murder and one of arson with intent to endanger life.

The landlord of their isolated home has identified the victims as Edward Gossett (16), his sister Diane Gossett (19), their mother Crystal Gossett, and Diane's young daughter, who is thought to be under the age of two.

Police charged the man on Saturday night after a judge had granted detectives an additional 36 hours to question him on Friday.

He was initially treated in hospital under armed guard after his arrest before being moved to police custody to be questioned.

The fire broke out a house in the Molly Road area of Derrylin early on Tuesday and alarm was raised at around 7.20am.

The roof of the whitewashed bungalow near the border collapsed, leaving a shell surrounded by farm buildings, rubble and machinery.

Police and rescue services spent several hours on Tuesday morning combing through the wreckage of the fire in a search for bodies.

At the time, authorities and residents of the village knew little about the family - including precisely how many people were in the house.

Police initially said three people were known to have died in the fire but on Wednesday, it was revealed that a fourth body had been recovered. It was that of a baby, thought to be around 18 months old and a daughter of Diane Gossett.

The victims were all from the same family and were originally from Doncaster in England, having lived at the rented house in Derrylin for around year.

It is understood the family had previously lived in Tralee, Co Kerry, for a period.

The 27-year-old man is due to appear at Enniskillen Magistrates Court this morning.

Detectives in Enniskillen are still appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the fire or anyone who was in the area of Molly Road between midnight on Monday and 7.20am on Tuesday to contact them on 101.