Body found in derelict house blaze

A murder investigation was launched today after a body was found in a derelict house destroyed by fire in Dublin.

A 38-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the early morning blaze at Seafield Road East in Clontarf.

Detectives could not determine the gender or identity of the dead person immediately after the body was discovered.

Firefighters were called to the blaze shortly before 3am and managed to bring it under control before extinguishing it.

Shortly after the alarm was raised a man was arrested under the Criminal Justice Act and taken to Raheny Garda Station.

After a body was discovered the police inquiry was upgraded from suspected arson to murder.

The State Pathologist Marie Cassidy has been asked to carry out a post mortem investigation.