A WELL-known Fermanagh family are “still in shock” after the popular restaurant that they own in the heart of Enniskillen was badly damaged in a fire at the weekend.

The blaze broke out in Franco’s Restaurant, which was opened by Betty Sweeney and her late husband Frank just over 30 years ago, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Betty Sweeney, who now lives in a flat beside the Queen Elizabeth Road restaurant, was asleep at the time and had to be helped out of her apartment by firefighters.

She suffered from smoke inhalation and was treated at the scene with oxygen therapy, but was otherwise unhurt.

A man in his 40s was also treated at the scene for shock, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) has revealed.

Fire crews from Enniskillen, Irvinestown, Belleek, Lisnaskea and Clogher stations battled for over two hours with the blaze in the kitchen and first-floor storage area of the three-storey building, which was significantly damaged.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, the NIFRS has confirmed.

Speaking to the Impartial Reporter yesterday (Wednesday), the restaurant’s manager, Emmett Sweeney, admitted that his family were “still in shock”, but added that their goal at the moment was to get part of the venue open again in five to six weeks.

Confirming that his mother was “100 per cent”, Mr Sweeney said that, thankfully, no-one was injured as a result of the fire.

The manager said that the middle section of the building, around the wash-up area of the kitchen, had borne the brunt of the blaze. Elsewhere, he said there was predominantly smoke damage.

The restaurant has had to close while repairs are being carried out, but Mr Sweeney is hopeful that part of the building can be re-opened for customers soon.

“Christmas is just around the corner,” he said.

Praising the firefighters and the PSNI for the professional way in which they dealt with the incident, Mr Sweeney said: “We would like to thank the fire crews as well as the PSNI, who all worked hard through the night to save Franco’s. Their efforts, care and consideration are deeply appreciated by all the Sweeney family.”

He also said that the family had been “overwhelmed” by the heartfelt messages of support they had received from members of the public in the days since the fire.