LISTEN:Neighbour who tried to save family from burning bungalow in Derrylin speaks to Q Radio

By Q Radio News and PA

A neighbour of the family killed in a house fire in Derrylin says he tried desparately to save the mother and two children inside.

Tommy Fee owns the bungalow and was one of the first on scene yesterday morning.

A 27 year-old man remains in police custody on suspicion of murder.

The suspect was held at the scene and taken to hospital before his arrest.

Tommy says local people are rallying round to support eachother at this difficult time:

"It was devastation, I couldn’t get in - an awful tragedy." Fermanagh fire: shocking eyewitness account on air am. pic.twitter.com/W41kA10P0r

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) February 27, 2018

Sinn Fein MP Michelle Gildernew said."As somebody who goes to a house in good faith to try and help people and people die, that is just, it's horrendous. It's hard to take."

The whitewashed rural bungalow in Derrylin, near the border with the Irish Republic, was destroyed in the blaze and the roof collapsed, leaving a shell surrounded by farm buildings and machinery.

The victims had only moved to the area recently, a local priest said, and were members of one family.

They had previously lived in the Republic of Ireland and were originally from England.

Fire engines and police cars were coming and going from the scene for most of the day.

Ms Gildernew added: "I know that some of the neighbours had went to the house here this morning to try and rescue the family inside. They are badly shaken.

"I understand they used a sledge and tried to break a window to gain access but weren't able to do that."

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy said: "At this time we believe the fire, which has claimed at least three lives, was started deliberately.

"We are continuing to thoroughly examine the scene along with our colleagues in the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service."

The victims were members of the same family, Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster said.

Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) said officers took an emergency call about the fire at 7.14am on Tuesday.

The blaze occurred in a rural lane near the scenic Doon Road. It was "well-developed" when firefighters arrived in three appliances from Lisnaskea and Enniskillen, the service added.

Police tape sealed off the entrance to Molly Road. It is the only house on the lane, surrounded by farm buildings and fields.

The fire was extinguished and police and fire officers are determining if anyone else was involved in the incident.

A spokeswoman for the fire service said: "The thoughts of NIFRS are with the family, friends and local community at this time."

Mrs Foster added it was devastating news for the local community and there was widespread shock in the area.

"It is important that the cause of the fire is established but my thoughts and prayers are with all those in the local area, friends and the wider family circle as they struggle to come to terms with this terrible tragedy."