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The deaths of an elderly couple at their home in Co Donegal are being treated as a tragic accident.
The woman, who was in her 70s, and the man, in his 80s, appear to have died in a fall in a bedroom of their home, according to a family relative.
Gardaí sealed off the house in the village of Convoy in Co Donegal on Wednesday after the couple were found dead. The results of a postmortem are still awaited.
The couple were found dead at their house on Fountain Terrace by neighbours, who informed a relative. The relative then contacted gardaí.
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A Garda source said there was no sign of a break-in at the house and no trauma on the couple’s bodies.
Local county councillor Liam Doherty, a relative of the late couple, said it appeared their deaths were due to a tragic accident.
“I have spoken to gardaí and they do not believe there was a break-in or any form of gas poisoning or anything like that.
“I’m satisfied that the gardaí have done a very thorough job in trying to find out what exactly happened.
“It’s just one of those tragic situations and it’s very difficult for the family at this time,” he said.
Cllr Doherty said it appeared the couple may have suffered falls in the bedroom of their home.
“It appeared that the wife fell first and then he fell after her in the middle of the night when he went to check on her. It’s just very sad,” he added.
The couples’ bodies have been removed to Letterkenny University Hospital where post mortems will be carried out to determine the exact cause of death.
A Garda spokesman said “This is very fresh and we simply cannot say at this stage how they died.
“A full examination of the scene will be carried out to determine what direction our investigation will take.”
The coroner for Donegal, Dr Denis McCauley, was on his way to the scene on Wednesday to carry out a further examination of the bodies.