Mayo town rocked by deaths of local couple in tragic fire

The east Mayo town of Swinford has been rocked and saddened by the deaths of a local couple in an overnight fire.

The blaze in a house at Deerpark on the outskirts of the town occurred around 2 a.m.

The couple who have died are described as well known and their deaths and the manner of their passing has numbed the community.

One local person, fighting back emotion, described what happened as “a desperate tragedy."

It is understood the house was well ablaze by the time fire services arrived.

One neighbour described the blaze as “a total conflagration."

Gardai have sealed off the fire damaged property pending a forensic examination.

Fire teams are still at the scene dampening down the remains of the residence.

In a statement An Garda Siochána confirmed one of the bodies has been recovered within the extensively damaged residence.

This body remains at the scene at this time.

The scene of the fire is currently preserved for a technical examination by the Garda Technical Bureau.

The office of the local Coroner has been notified.

Enquiries are ongoing.