Garda forensic investigators are trying to establish the cause of a fire at a makeshift den in which a 12-year-old boy from Tallaght, Dublin, died at the weekend.
The boy, who has not yet been officially named by gardai, died after a fire broke out in the den at 5 a.m. on Saturday, where the boy and a friend were having a slumber party.
The other boy, also aged 12, awoke and tried to pull his friend to safety. He was treated in Tallaght Hospital for smoke inhalation and minor burns.
Garda forensic experts were at the scene at the weekend, trying to establish the cause of the fire. They believe "some form of naked flame" was involved.
The den, which was built in an alleyway between a derelict shop and a house, was constructed recently by local boys.
A local Sinn Fein councillor, Mr Sean Crowe, said that the boy's family did not know he was staying in the den.
He had originally wanted to stay overnight with relatives, said Mr Crowe. But after seeing friends at the den he had decided to spend the night there. The den was made from wooden pallets and pieces of carpet and contained other material.
Mr Crowe, who is a friend of the family, said they are devastated, but do not want to apportion any blame for the death of the boy. He said some local residents were "adamant" they had previously objected to South Dublin County Council about the den.
He said the death added further sadness to the area after two people were killed when their car collided with a bus on the Tallaght bypass on Friday night. The accident occurred near the Jobstown Inn shortly after 8.40 p.m.
Gardai officially named the deceased as Mr Steven Cousins (33), from Allenton Green, Tallaght, and Mr Ronald O'Conner, from Birchwood Drive, Springfield, Tallaght, who was in his 50s.