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Wednesday, 26th February, 2025. Vol. 18, Issue 9 • 9A, Crowe Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth Tel: 042 932 0888 | Email: editorial@dundalkleader.com; advertising@dundalkleader.com
‘They have lost everything’ Local community rally around Walker family after their family home is destroyed by fire By Paul Byrne THE North Louth community have rallied together to help out the Walker family from Omeath following a house fire in their family home last Thursday morning. Packy and Amanada Walker and their children Sophie, twins, Sarah and Shannon and Patrick were left devastated when their family home of sixteen years in Omeath was burned to the ground in a devastating fire. Sixteen-year old Patrick who was on his mid-term break from school was the only person home at the time and it was he who raised the alarm after he was awoken on Thursday morning following a ferocious bang heard from the attic area of the house. The hot-press which was upstairs in the house is suspected to be the cause of the fire which very quickly ripped through the house which is located in Ballinteskin in Omeath. Fire crews from both Dundalk and
Carlingford arrived at the scene shortly after the alarm was raised by Patrick but unfortunately the house was gutted already as the fire-fighters spent several hours putting out the flames. Thankfully nobody was hurt in the fire but unfortunately for the Walkers their house insurance had lapsed just before Christmas and had not been renewed. Upon hearing the devastating news that the Walkers had lost everything in the fire, the local community sprung into action to help their popular neighbours with a GoFundMe Page set up by Keisha Sheelan already raising just over €40,000 since launching on Friday afternoon. The Four Seasons Hotel where twins Sarah and Shannon Walker work, have also got behind the family by organising a benefit evening filled with music, dance and celebration, inviting the community to come together and support the Walker family. Firefighters working at the Walker’s family home in Omeath which was destroyed in a fire last Thursday morning. Continued on Page 2