Gardai investigate cause of Limerick fire

Gardaí are investigating the cause of a house fire in Limerick which has left a woman and two of her children in critical condition.

The fire broke out at around 7am in a house on Lenihan Avenue in the Ballinacurra Weston area of Limerick City.

There were nine people in the house when the fire broke out and all but three members of the family were released from hospital.

One of the children is understood to be in a critical condition in Limerick General Hospital, her sister was brought to hospital in Dublin and the children's mother was transferred to Cork University Hospital where her condition is said to be stable.

Gardaí are expected to conduct a forensic examination of the scene today to establish the cause of the fire.