A farmer who came across the horror car blaze that killed two children has told of how he pulled their mother back from the flames.
Tragic brother and sister Mikey (2) and Thelma (5) died after the car they were travelling in with their mother was set on fire in what gardai now suspect was a deliberate act - in Co Westmeath on Friday, September 9.
The horrific fireball was witnessed by a passing local farmer, who spoke to this paper for the first time today about what he witnessed.
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The man, who is local to the area, said he did not wish for his name to be used - but he described coming across the car on fire - and the children’s distressed mother Lynn Egar on the Coole Road, just outside of Multyfarnham on Friday afternoon.
“I saw the car was on fire. You could see the smoke from way down the road. I brought the mother to the side of the road and back from the flames.
“I did what anybody would do. I helped as best I could at the scene and I waited with her until the ambulance came,” he said.
The farmer told this paper that Ms Egar was able to speak at the scene - as he said what he witnessed, no-one should ever have to witness.
“It’s not something you would ever want to see again,” he said.
The man said he stayed with Ms Egar and her baby boy Mikey, who had been pulled from the vehicle - until emergency services arrived.
Ms Egar was airlifted to hospital - while Mikey was taken by ambulance to Regional Hospital Mullingar, where he was sadly later pronounced dead.
Tragically, the remains of his sister were found inside the car and later removed to the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore.
It is understood that Ms Egar was continuing to receive medical support in hospital on Tuesday and has not yet been spoken to by gardai.
Ms Egar was in a relationship with Michael Dennany, the father of the children - and lived in Rathowen - roughly 10km from Multyfarnham, where the kids attended primary school.
And speaking to this paper outside the local church in Multyfarnham on Tuesday, Fr Conor McGee, who attended the scene and said prayers there immediately following the incident last Friday said:
“I was there. There were prayers said and blessings given.
“It’s difficult for everybody.
“This has affected the whole community, especially with the teachers and parents of the children that are in the schools and in playschool as well.
“It’s like everything, these things just, even what happened in Tallaght, it shocks everybody and affects everybody.
“It’s the same here, this has touched so many people. It’s going to take a while for the community and the family to come to terms with all of that,” he said.
“I think of the poor woman now and what awaits her. There’s no words.”
His comments come as funeral details were announced for the children yesterday.
A death notice posted on website RIP.ie stated that the children will be “sadly missed and remembered with love by their heartbroken family, father Michael, mother Lynn, sister Katelyn, brother Eddie, grandmother Mary, grandfather Herbert, aunts, uncles, relatives and friends.”
The post went on to say that they are “safe in the arms of the Angels.”
The bodies of the children are reposing at Glennon’s Funeral Home, Ballinalee Road, Longford on Wednesday from 4.00pm concluding with prayers at 8.00pm.
The funeral then is set to take place at St Mel’s Cathedral in Longford on Thursday at 11am - with burial taking place afterwards in Cullyfad Cemetery.
The details follow an emotional vigil that took place in the village of Multyfarnham - attended by around 500 people on Sunday.
Some carried candles and framed pictures of the victims.
Those who took part walked from Michael’s pre-school, Children of Lir, to St Cremins National School where Thelma was a pupil.
Karl Dermody, principal of St Cremin’s, said the school community had been devastated by the loss.
In a short statement, Mr Dermody described Thelma as “warm, happy and vibrant”.
Gardai have urged anyone with information to contact Mullingar Garda station on 044 9384000, or contact the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
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