A YOUNG man who died when a fire broke out in the kitchen of his apartment in Cobh, Co Cork, has been named locally as 23-year-old Shane O’Mahony.
The fire occurred in an apartment in Rushbrooke Manor in the town the early hours of Friday morning. It is believed Mr O’Mahony was overcome by smoke fumes when he was cooking.
His body was only discovered on Friday evening. The incident is being treated as a tragic accident.
A Garda technical expert examined the scene on Saturday. However, the death is not being treated as suspicious. Mr O’Mahony’s remains were removed to Cork University Hospital for a postmortem examination.
Mayor of Cobh, Cllr Paddy Whitty, described the passing of the young man as a “very tragic situation”.
“I am very sorry for the family and send on my condolences on behalf of Cobh Town Council. It is very tragic that someone would die in an accidental fire in an apartment.”
Local Labour councillor John Mulvihill also extended his sympathy to the family on behalf of the people of the town.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident a fire destroyed the site of a closed pub at the Lough in Cork city on Friday night. The Lough Tavern, which has been vacant for three years, went up in flames shortly after 10pm last Friday.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.