Hi °C | Lo °C The parents who died alongside their five children in a house fire in Omagh " lived for their family", a neighbour said last night.
As fire crews battled to rescue the bodies in the end terrace house at Lammy Crescent, shocked friends and neighbours walked to the site of the tragedy to pay their respects.
Police have not formally identified the bodies but the victims were named locally last night as Arthur McElhill and Lorraine McGovern along with their five children, Caroline (13), Sean (7), Belina (4), Clodagh (1) and James (nine months).
Sharon Coyle, a friend of Lorraine's, brought her son, Dara, who was a classmate of Sean's at St Conor's Primary School.
She said: "Sean and Dara were good friends.
"It was difficult telling him his friend had died. I just told him there had been an accident at Sean's house.
"He was very upset. He hasn't said a lot but I just thought bringing flowers with him would help him to come to terms with this terrible tragedy."
Miss Coyle described Lorraine as a great mum.
"I met her at school and she was a lovely woman. She loved her children. Both the parents did, they lived for their family.
She added: "Caroline was a lovely, pretty girl and always said hello. She had lovely manners. Belina was just beautiful with ginger hair and freckles.
"She had a lovely wee smile.
"Sean was set to take his first Holy Communion in May. He will not be there and his whole class will miss him terribly."
It is understood a special assembly was held at Sacred Heart College in Omagh, where Caroline attended, yesterday.
Along with flowers and teddies, special messages were left close to the site of the fatal fire. One read: "My friend Sean who is up with the angels."
Another read: "Faith in God's hands forever."
Another said: "Too precious for this world, goodnight and God bless."
Parish priest Monsignor Joseph Donnelly said the tragedy has left the whole community numb: "I just baptised the youngest in the springtime. It is an awful tragedy to come to terms with.
"I think there is a numbness amongst the community and I know this is the worst form of tragedy I've come across and I am trying to come to terms with it myself."
"We don't know the full circumstances and we have to keep going for the relatives but there is strength in this community," he added.
"Two of the children who died went to the school and the school teachers are shocked and grieving and also greatly concerned for the other children who have lost classmates."
