Investigators believe a fire which claimed the life of a man in his early 30s in Charleville in North Cork was started accidentally and may have been caused by a smouldering cigarette in a downstairs room.
Mr Paul Power, a native of Irishtown in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, died after being overcome by fumes while staying in the house of a work colleague and friend, Ms Linda Noonan, at De Valera Place in Charleville at about 5 a.m. yesterday.
A Garda spokesman confirmed that the alarm was raised inside the house by Ms Noonan who woke her two sons, Anthony (21) and Ross (17), as well as Mr Power. But he collapsed just as he was about to start coming down the stairs.
Ms Noonan and her sons managed to get downstairs and out of the building. When they realised Mr Power hadn't followed them out, Ms Noonan went back into the house but could only make it halfway up the stairs and had to come back out.
Meanwhile, neighbours in the estate contacted the emergency services and gardaí arrived at the scene where they were joined by firefighters from Charleville and Kilmallock, who managed to quickly bring the blaze under control.
According to Charleville Station Officer, Mr Donal Forde, the house was engulfed in flames when they arrived at the scene, but a number of firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were able to get into the house where they found Mr Power on the upper landing.
"We managed to get Mr Power out and attempted to resuscitate him at the scene.
Unfortunately we weren't successful and he was pronounced dead at the scene by a local doctor. It's a terrible tragedy coming up to the Christmas season," said Mr Forde.
Mr Power's body was removed to Cork University Hospital for a post-mortem to establish the exact cause of death, but initial indicators suggested that he may have died from smoke inhalation after fumes filled the upper levels of the house.
Meanwhile, Ms Noonan and her two sons were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene and they were later comforted by relatives and friends following the tragedy at their two storey terraced house on the Cork side of the town.
Mr Power had worked in London for a number of years but three months ago moved to Charleville, where he worked as head chef in Kennedy's pub.
Yesterday the owner, Ms Norma Kennedy, spoke with sadness of Mr Power's death.
"Paul was working with us yesterday evening until 8 p.m., laughing and joking with us all. He had a fantastic, larger than life personality.
"He was very popular with everyone, both staff and customer, he got on with everyone and was well liked," said Ms Kennedy.
"He'll be sadly missed, both professionally, because he was an excellent chef but also on a personal level. We're all just numb and shocked at the tragedy."
Garda technical experts carried out a forensic examination which ruled out any question of foul play.
According to Garda and fire brigade sources, it appears the fire started on a sofa, possibly caused by a smouldering cigarette.
