A woman has died after a fire broke out at her home in Fermoy, Co Cork.
Ms Louise Barber (74), Thomas Street, Fermoy, died in the fire which broke out shortly after 8.45 p.m. on Saturday. Neighbours raised the alarm.
Two gardaí from Fermoy station attempted to break in to the house to put out the blaze. However, the flames had spread quickly through the ground floor and the blaze was soon out of control. Four units of the fire brigade, two from Fermoy and two from Mitchelstown, tackled the fire.
Ms Barber, who lived on her own, is thought to have died from smoke inhalation. Her body were taken to Cork University Hospital for a post-mortem examination. A Garda spokesman yesterday said the scene was being technically examined.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. However, a number of candles were burning in the house and it is thought a small fire on the ground floor may have started the blaze.