Ireland

Man dies in house fire on University of Limerick campus

Blaze broke out at home in Kilmurry Village close to University of Limerick

The University of Limerick campus.
The University of Limerick campus.
David Raleigh
Fri Jun 21 2024 - 11:07

Gardaí are investigating a fatal house fire at a house on the campus grounds of the University of Limerick.

An elderly man, in his late 80s or early 90s, and understood to have been an academic, was found dead at the scene.

The fire broke out at a house at Kilmurry Village shortly before midnight on Thursday night and the man’s body remained at the scene last night.

The alarm was raised at 11.41pm and four tender units including a high-rise platform were dispatched from fire stations in Limerick City and Cappamore.

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Firefighters attached to the Limerick City and County Fire Service spent five hours at the scene, putting out the fire and damping down the scene before returning to their bases after 5am.

Gardaí remain at the scene and are investigating all of the circumstances in relation to what caused the fire.

A Garda spokesman said the scene is currently preserved pending a technical examination.

“A postmortem examination will be arranged and the results of this, along with the findings of the technical examination, will determine the course of the Garda investigation,” the spokesman said.

A University of Limerick statement read: “There was a fire at one of UL’s student villages late on Thursday night. Village staff acted immediately after the alarm was raised but a man has sadly passed away.

“A Garda investigation is underway and UL will be making no further comment at this time.”

A Garda source said gardaí had yet to formally identify the victim.