19 year old woman dies in fire
A fire at a flat in Castlewellan has claimed the life of a 19 year old woman.
The fire reportedly broke out in the bedroom of the flat at around 4:00am this morning in Lower Square.
Named locally as Ellen Finnegan, the teenager lived in a flat above her father’s butcher’s shop.
SDLP South Down MLA expressed his sympathies with the Finnegan family. “My thoughts are with Bartley and his wider family circle. This news is simply heart-breaking and the feeling around Castlewellan is one of utter shock.
“There is a great sense of solidarity in the Castlewellan community and they will support those who have been left devastated by losing Ellen at such a young age.”
Local SDLP Councillor Laura Devlin spoke about Ellen in glowing terms. “Ellen was a highly intelligent, strikingly beautiful young lady with a quick wit and sharp personality – a personality that she was renowned for. All of these attributes made her such a popular person. In these ways and many more she was a lot like her late Mum Nichola.
“The Finnegan family have owned the butchers in Castlewellan for as long as I can remember. They are at the heart of the community and are loved and respected by everyone. The news this morning is just so hard to process. I visited Bartley this morning – all of the Finnegans and Halls are in my thoughts and prayers on this very dark day,” she added.
SDLP MP for South Down, Margaret Ritchie said the tragedy will have a profound impact on the entire community. “It is difficult for most of us to contemplate the grief that is now being felt by this young woman’s family and friends but on behalf of myself and all the people of South Down I would like to extend our deepest condolences to them at this most difficult time.
“I would also like to commend the work of the Fire and Ambulance Services who acted courageously in their response to this emergency,” she added.
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