United by grief
Thursday, 2 October 2008
Little Anna Lee Clelland Harkin who perished in a house fire at Springfarm on Saturday.
THE people of Springfarm are 'heartbroken but united' behind the family of the 10-month-old baby girl who perished in a house fire last weekend, a community leader said last night.
Speaking in a faltering voice still raw with emotion, Seamus Davis said the death of little Anna Lee Clelland Harkin had 'shaken the estate to its core' - but he added that the heroic efforts to save the children from the blaze at Orkney Street underlined the courage and strength that will now try to support a family torn asunder by unimaginable grief.
Undoubtedly they will be on hand this week as shell-shocked locals gather at St Comgall's church at 11am on Wednesday morning to offer their condolences and bid a final farewell to a young life taken too soon.
Ironically, Saturday's catastrophic inferno came as a Family Fun Day in the estate brought crowds thronging on to the streets to enjoy the last of the summer sun - and spirits were high.
But the laughter ended abruptly shortly after 7pm when an ominous cloud of thick, black smoke was seen belching from an upstairs window of a gable end house.
The alarm was raised and the baby's mother Ursula escaped with her 10-year-old daughter and three-year-old son. It soon became apparent that two children, a five-year-old boy and baby Anna, were trapped inside.
Mr Davis, who is in line for a Daily Mirror Pride of Britain 'Unsung Heroes' Award later this week, insisted that his contribution to local life was dwarfed by the 'unsung heroes' who put their lives on the line to save the youngsters.
“A lot of things are said and written about our young people, but from where I was standing on Saturday evening their bravery was just incredible," he said.
“When I received the call I raced down to see what was going on and already a group of young lads had risked everything by venturing into that raging inferno looking for survivors."
Among them was Shaun Tymon, whose teenage brother Joel was murdered in Springfarm back in November 2000.
Their persistence eventually reaped a precious reward when one child was carried coughing and spluttering from the house.
“They had ladders against the windows trying to get into the baby's room, but the smoke was too thick," said Seamus.
“In the meantime there were five men trying to rescue the kids by dashing up the stairs through the soot, the flames and the smoke.
“Miraculously one of them managed to get past it all but he still couldn't see the children. Then he heard the boy screaming so he grabbed him and dashed back outside.
“Without his intervention we would undoubtedly be looking at two deaths. This was a tragedy, but the small mercy I suppose is that it could have been even worse."
The Fire Brigade arrived a short time later and firefighters using breathing apparatus soon brought it under control - but by then it was too late for the baby.
“Looking at the smoke and the flames people feared the worst, but when Father Devlin was summoned to the house many people suspected that every parent's nightmare had just come true for Ursula and her family. By then the street was quiet, but when we heard the squeals we knew what had happened.
“No-one can quite believe what has happened and emotions have been running very high. On Sunday I saw a young lad walking around in a daze and when I asked him if he was okay he just burst into tears. It was the same story when I spoke to a man of 60.
“The heart has been ripped out of the estate and it will take a long time to heal."
Deputy Mayor Adrian Watson visited the scene on Saturday night as the complex police probe into what started the blaze got under way.
“People were standing around in huddles but you got a real sense that they were just numb. They couldn't believe that this lovely child's short life had ended so soon and so tragically," he said.
“I saw Father Devlin taking the mother away from the scene and the streets slowly began to clear. By that stage everyone knew that the baby had died - but even curious bystanders had no wish to see her removed by the Emergency Services.
“Obviously our thoughts are with this family in their darkest hour. As a parent myself I can't imagine the pain they must all be suffering."
He added that local reps would help 'in any way they could' - and it is understood that the search for alternative accommodation began as soon as the Housing Executive opened its doors on Monday.
Speaking from the scene, South Antrim PUP chairman Ken Wilkinson said the family were 'in bits' and still struggling to come to terms with the enormity of their loss.
“I would like to offer my condolences to these people. There lives have been turned upside down and will never be the same again," he said.
“This was a terrible tragedy, but out of it we have seen the remarkable heroism of the young people of Springfarm. They must be commended."
He added that the loss of a young life underlined the need for a full-term Fire Service for Antrim.
A police spokesman confirmed that they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death on behalf of the Coroner. He added, however, that initial enquiries suggest that there were 'no suspicious circumstances'.
A spokesman for the fire and Rescue Service confirmed that a smoke detector had been fitted on the premises but the battery was absent.
Last night it emerged that a number of shops at Junction One have clubbed together to provide emergency clothing for the Harkin family.
