Polish man dies in blaze

A POLISH man died yesterday when fire ripped through his mobile home on the grounds of a top racing stable.

The 31-year-old had been working as a farm-hand for Clonakilty-based horse trainer Raymond Hurley since January and was living close to the farm. He had been in Ireland for several months.

The Hurleys and their staff were said to be distraught after the tragedy.

Gardaí declined to release the name of the deceased until relatives were informed. They made contact with the Polish embassy last night who are assisting gardaí in tracing the victim’s family in Poland.

The dead man was described locally as a very popular member of staff at the stables near Letter — a few kilometres north west of Clonakilty.

The alarm was raised by a neighbour just after 11.30pm on Sunday. Fires crews from Clonakilty rushed to the scene and gardaí arrived soon afterwards. However, the mobile home was completely ablaze.

The fire was brought under control and the man’s body was recovered from the gutted caravan’s bedroom a short time later. He was the sole occupant of the mobile home.

While the exact cause of the fire has yet to be established, foul play has been ruled out.