An elderly man has died following a fire in a thatched cottage in Co Laois. Fiona Gartlandand Niamh O'Donoghuereport.
Jim Hyland (70) died when his home in The Heath village, near Portlaoise, was destroyed by fire in the small hours of Friday morning.
Residents say the blaze broke out at about 2am in the traditional-style cottage, which is opposite the local primary school.
Five units of the fire brigade were called to the scene, but the house was destroyed.
Members of the Garda forensic unit searched through the remains of the house.
Mr Hyland's body was recovered yesterday afternoon and removed to Portlaoise General Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
The cause of the blaze is so far unknown, however, Mr Hyland did have an open fire range in his house, locals said.
Chief county fire officer Martin Collins said the thatched roof caved in and the cottage was destroyed.
Superintendent Philip Lyons of Portlaoise Garda station said yesterday that they are not treating the incident as suspicious.
Mr Hyland was an amateur historian and collected artefacts and memorabilia related to Irish republicanism, including a collection of pikes.
He was described as a friendly and reserved man.
He was a popular regular at local Heath pub, Treacy's, which he visited nightly.
Proprietor Tom Treacy said Mr Hyland arrived last night at about 10.50pm and left shortly before midnight. The pub is about a mile from the house.
