Shocked relatives and friends were last night comforting the parents of two children who died in a caravan fire in Clondalkin, west Dublin.
The two boys were named by relatives as Michael and Joe McGinley. Michael would have been three at Christmas and Joe was 22 months, according to a member of the extended family who declined to be named.
The two boys are survived by their five-year-old sister Megan and parents Lisa and Willie McGinley, who are in their 20s.
The cause of the fire at the halting site at Oldcastle Park on the Nangor Road is still being investigated. Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after 2pm.
Last night the charred and roofless shell of the small caravan at the end of the bay at Oldcastle Close was still cordoned off by gardaí who had carried out a forensic examination at the scene.
It remained unclear whether a heater was responsible for the fire, which is believed to have destroyed the caravan in minutes. The mobile home had perspex windows. There was no street lighting at the bay where a number of other caravans were also located.
Relatives and friends sat in cars and SUVs near the destroyed home. In one caravan about eight people sat in the dark, virtually numb with grief and shock.
Relatives were reluctant to discuss the tragedy. One woman at the caravan could only say, "we're very upset".
Other family members and friends stood watch outside in the freezing temperatures at the bay, where it is understood the extended McGinley family lives.
The bodies of the two boys were removed to Tallaght hospital where postmortem examinations are expected to be carried out today.
Two gardaí stood by the cordoned-off caravan. "They didn't stand a chance," said a garda at the scene.