Gardaí in the midlands are still trying to establish the cause of a house fire which claimed the life of a 45-year-old man on Wednesday night.
Pat Doran, a father of three, died in his home in the village of Ballynacarrigy, nine miles from Mullingar, shortly after 11pm.
He was pronounced dead at the scene by a local doctor.
Mr Doran, who worked as a bus driver, was alone in the house at the time. His wife, Frankie, and three children were nearby in the home of Ms Doran's family.
"It could have been a greater tragedy if the others were there.
"Everybody is stunned locally. It was just so unexpected.
"Pat was a hard-working, able-bodied man," said local parish priest Fr Michael Deegan, who consoled the grieving family.
"Locals are very upset. It is a terrible tragedy to see a life lost in this way, and the family are devastated."
The children, David, Shane and Jack, are all under 15. David is studying for his Junior Cert in St Mary's CBS, Mullingar.
The local fire brigade and gardaí from Granard attended at the scene, and Garda forensic experts spent yesterday trying to piece together what caused the blaze.
The Dorans' home was destroyed in the blaze and neighbours and friends yesterday rallied around the family.