Two elderly brothers died yesterday after a fire at their home in Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary. They were named as Mr Thomas Walsh (61) and Mr Richard Walsh (72).
The fire brigade at Carrick-on-Suir was called to the house at 3.05 a.m. yesterday. However, the fire-fighters were beaten back by dense smoke and prevented from getting into the premises.
Eventually, they managed to bring the fire under control, and as the smoke abated they entered the small two-bedroomed cottage. The brothers were discovered in their bedrooms at 5.30 a.m. Yesterday a post-mortem was carried out on the two by the State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, at Ardkeen Regional Hospital in Co Waterford.
A Garda spokesman said that as a result of the post-mortem no foul play was suspected. It was understood the two elderly men died from smoke inhalation, the spokesman said.
Both brothers were retired and had lived in the cottage for a number of years. One had been a farm labourer and the other worked in a granary. The house is situated about half-a-mile from Carrick-on-Suir on the main Waterford road. The cause of the fire is not known, and is being investigated by gardaí.
They sealed off the cottage and preserved the scene. A forensic examination has begun into the possible source of the fire.