Three-year-old Clayton Maher, has died and his twin sister, Kim, is in a critical condition, following a fire in a flat in Dublin city centre early yesterday morning.
Gardaí and fire investigation officers were still trying to establish the cause of the fire last night but early indications were that it was accidental.
The emergency services were alerted at 4.20 a.m. when the fire broke out in a bedroom of the three-storey flat in Ross Road, close to Christchurch in Dublin 8.
The three-year-old twins were rescued from the flat in a critical condition and taken to Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin. Clayton died at about 1 p.m. yesterday. Kim remained critically ill last night.
Their six-year-old sister, Chelsea, was taken to Temple Street Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation and serious injuries.
The children's 24-year-old mother, Ms Tracey Maher and their babysitter were taken to St James's Hospital, also suffering from smoke inhalation.
Neighbours tried to rescue the family before six units of the Dublin Fire Brigade arrived.
Fire fighters brought the blaze under control in about two hours.
One fireman received facial injuries during the incident and needed medical treatment.
The scene was preserved for a technical examination yesterday. A fire brigade spokesman said investigators were examining the scene to determine the cause of the fire.
Forensic officers from the Garda Technical Bureau were also investigated the scene.
While foul play was not ruled out, nothing was found to indicate suspicious circumstances.
The fire did not spread to other flats in the building.
Meanwhile, gardaí in Newbridge are still investigating the cause of the fire in which Newbridge Courthouse was burned down last week.
Samples of the debris have been removed from the scene and are being examined for traces of accelerant.
A Garda spokesman said it could be several days before the cause of the fire was determined.
