Cooker blamed for fatal fire at flat

Gardaí believe a cooker was the cause of a fire in Drogheda this morning which killed one man and critically injured another.

Neighbours are also being treated for smoke inhalation following the blaze in a flat on Mary St around 10am.

A local man in his 40s was pronounced dead at the scene and another man was rushed to the intensive care unit at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in the town.

Gardaí say they’re treating the death as suspicious but are waiting for a full technical examination of the smoke-damaged flat.

A number of people who lived in adjoining flats in the same house were also taken to hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation.

A local Garda spokesman said that a household cooker may have been responsible for the fire, which was attended by three units of Drogheda Fire Brigade.