‘Everyone is horrified this could happen’ – Mayo community reeling after deaths of retired couple in house fire

Tom and Eileen Mahon, aged in their 60s, from Deerpark, Swinford, Co Mayo, both died in the fire which engulfed their home in the early hours of yesterday.

The couple, who owned a furniture and flooring business in the town for many years, are survived by their two adult daughters.

It is not known what caused the blaze.

Investigations are continuing.

Emergency services were alerted to the fire at the two-storey detached house on the outskirts of the town at around 2am.

It is understood the alarm was raised after a neighbour’s dog became agitated and started barking.

The homeowner contacted the emergency services who were on the scene quickly.

But tragically the fire had advanced and spread rapidly.

Locals in Swinford have spoken of their horror and shock at the tragedy.

One man said he had known Tom Mahon for many years.

“They were good people and Tom was a sound character,” he said.

“I only met him a couple of weeks ago.

“Everyone is horrified this could happen.

“I cant bear to think what their girls are going through. It’s cruel.”

Local Fianna Fáil councillor John Caulfield said the whole community was “numb with shock”.

“It’s a terrible tragedy and people are just stunned,” he Cllr Caulfield said.

“The Mahons would be very well known and respected. I had many dealings with them over the years and they were lovely people.

“It’s hard to understand why these things happen. They had a great reputation in business but more importantly they were so well thought of by everyone.

“This is the second such tragedy in only a short space of time in east Mayo.

“In Kiltimagh, a lady also lost her life in a fire just two weeks ago, so there really is a sense of disbelief in the area to lose two people who were so much a part of the community.

“All we can do is offer our deepest condolences to the family and I know Swinford is a great community that will come together and support them in anyway they can.”

Several units of Mayo Fire Service attended the scene and spent a number of hours bringing the situation under control.

The scene remained preserved and sealed off last night pending a full ­technical examination, which will try to determine the exact cause of the blaze.

Following the discovery of the couple inside the property, their bodies were removed to Mayo University Hospital for post-mortem examinations.