The sister of the Scottish Parliament’s presiding officer, Tricia Marwick, has died in a house fire.
Maureen Brown (60) perished when a blaze ripped through her Dunfermline home on Monday.
Ms Marwick told The Courier that the family are “devastated”.
It is understood that Mrs Brown, who suffered from ME, lived alone after the death of husband Ian a few weeks ago.
The pair had two adult children.
An investigation into the cause of the blaze is under way.
Fife Constabulary said that, while the early indications are that there are no suspicious circumstances, they are “keeping an open mind”.
Ms Marwick, who also has three younger sisters including Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay councillor Alice McGarry said the loss of her sibling would be keenly felt.
She told The Courier: “This is a devastating blow to the family.
“Maureen lost her husband recently and had the support of her family.”
Ms Marwick, who left the SNP backbenches to become presiding officer in May, asked that the family be given time to grieve.’Very difficult time’She said: “This is a very difficult time for the family.”
This week’s tragedy is not the first to hit the well-known Fife family.
Mrs Brown’s death comes seven years after Mrs McGarry’s son Ross (25) also died in a house fire.
He was found unconscious in his Inverkeithing home by firefighters in October 2004.
A neighbour who tried to rescue Mr McGarry after he heard the smoke alarm going off was beaten back by thick smoke and subsequent efforts to resuscitate the young stonemason were in vain.
It is thought that the blaze started after a chip pan overheated.
Detective Inspector David McLaren, who is leading the investigation into the fire, said: “At this early stage, indications are that there are no suspicious circumstances, although we will continue to keep an open mind.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Fife Constabulary on 0845 6005702.
Fire and rescue crews were alerted to the blaze in Husband Place shortly after noon on Monday.
A neighbour raised the alarm after smelling smoke apparently coming from Mrs Brown’s mid-terraced house.
Paramedics were quickly on the scene, but could do nothing.