DOZENS of floral tributes yesterday adorned the path outside the house where school girl Brooke Reid McMaster lost her life in a fatal fire.
Messages of sympathy were posted on the flowers as well as memories of the the 12-year-old, who was described by her mother Martha as "my baby, my princess".
It came as her grandfather Billy McMaster revealed that the window in Brooke's bedroom was fitted with a childlock that may have prevented her from escaping the blaze at her Ballymena home.
Neighbours made frantic attempts to save the young girl from the fire, which is believed to have started in the bedroom of her home in Staffa Drive in the Ballykeel estate.
Several neighbours tried desperately to rescue her from the burning house, attempting to get through the front door of the house on Wednesday evening.
Mr McMcMaster said they believe she was unable to get out of her room due to a lock on the window.
"She was screaming for help and trying to get out," he said.
"The big bedroom window was double glazed and fitted with a childlock so she couldn't break it, and she was too big to escape through the small window.
"There were four or five people trying to break down the front door, while Martha's partner was upstairs trying to get in to her room," he told The Belfast Telegraph.
Hundreds of people gathered at a vigil on Thursday night in the estate where the Dunclug College pupil lived, including her mother and father who released balloons in her memory.
Her heartbroken mother, who had been visiting her sister in Aghogill at the time of the blaze, said: "She was just a typical girl, had her attitude, had her sassy moments, but she had a heart of gold, she would have done anything.
"That's been reflected by the schools, Sunday schools, everything...I'm so so happy that that's how everyone remembers her as not a trouble-maker."
Meanwhile, a fundraising page established to help the family had last night raised more than £7,000.
Family friend Dawn Walker said she had set up the page following the death of "such a beautiful young lady".
"It's no secret that this family have gone through so much and no parent this young should be loosing another one of their beautiful babies," she said.
"I beg you all to dig deep and help raise some pennies so we can support Brooke's family in these hard times.
"The family have lost not only this gorgeous little lady but their home, belongings, and of course memories of young Brooke too."
