The burial of a Limerick man who died following a fire in the US takes place today in his native city.
Mr Brendan Ward (43) was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital with 98 per cent burns to his body following a fire at a house in the Boston suburb of Everett on Monday night. He died on Tuesday morning in intensive care.
A young woman managed to escape from the burning building and raised the alarm. The victim, who worked as a painter in Boston for the past six years, was found in the porch of the building.
The fire is believed to have started in a back room in the upstairs flat of the two-storey building. The occupants were understood to have been asleep.
Mr Ward's remains were flown to Shannon airport accompanied by his brother, Jim, and sister Helen. He originally lived at O'Curry Street and is also survived by his mother Terry. His late father, Mr Jack Ward, who died aged 41, was a garda at the former William Street station.
The funeral takes place from St Joseph's Church to Mount St Lawrence cemetery.