GARDAÍ ARE INVESTIGATING following a fatal fire in Limerick overnight.

One person, a man in his 80s, has died following the fire which happened in the Rose Court area of Southill.

The man’s son was returning home when he saw smoke coming from the house. He found his father unresponsive.

Units from Limerick Fire Brigade attended the scene and extinguished the blaze.

The scene has been preserved and gardaí said that the results from forensic tests will determine the course of their investigation but gardaí believe the fire was accidental.

A spokesman said: “Gardaí are investigating a fatal house fire in Keyes Park in Limerick City at 2am on 2 June 2018. A man in his 80s was pronounced dead at the scene. The fire was discovered by the man’s son who was returning home. He discovered the house filled with smoke and his father unresponsive in an upstairs bedroom.

“The scene in preserved for technical examination but at this stage Gardaí believe the fire was accidental.”