The two teenage girls who died in a fire in a derelict factory in Dublin at the weekend had never sought accommodation from the Eastern Health Board. "They were not in our care and they never presented to us looking for accommodation," a spokeswoman for the board said yesterday.
The teenagers were named as Caoimhe Wall (16), from Valeview Drive, Finglas South, and Sarah-Jane Lawrence (16), from Mulroy Road, Cabra. Their bodies were found in the burnt-out former handbag factory on St James's Street early last Saturday morning.
Initial reports suggested that the two teenagers were homeless and sleeping rough. However, it is understood that one of the girls had been at home on Friday evening and that the other had only been away from home for a "short period" before the fatal fire.
Last night, gardai said that preliminary post-mortem examinations had established that both girls died from smoke inhalation. A Garda spokesman said that there was nothing suspicious about the deaths.
It is believed that a teenage boy was with the girls in the building and escaped the blaze. He is said to be in emergency accommodation in the city. I had difficulty identifying the bodies and had the dental records of missing teenagers checked before contacting parents about possible identification. While neither teenager had been housed by the health board, one source said that an "approach" had been made on behalf of one of the girls about finding accommodation.
Neighbours in Finglas said that Caoimhe Wall's mother was not at home. "She has enough to deal with. Just leave her alone," one woman said. An aunt of Sarah-Jane Lawrence told reporters in Cabra that the family did not want to talk to the press. Gardai in Finglas said that Caoimhe Wall had not been reported missing.
Post-mortem examinations were carried out yesterday by the State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison, at the City Morgue in Store Street. The bodies were identified by dental records.
Garda technical experts have examined the scene of the fire, but it was not clear yesterday what had caused it. The girls are believed to have lit candles, but it is not thought that they had any form of bedding or sleeping bags with them.
A Garda source said that the remains of Sarah-Jane Lawrence would be removed for a private funeral today. Caoimhe Wall is to be buried on Thursday.
