Foul play ruled out after man dies in Cork house fire

Gardaí and forensics experts at the scene of the fatal fire at 94 Togher Rd in the Lough area of Cork City. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Foul play has been ruled out in the death of a man in a house fire in Cork, while a man found in a crashed car in West Cork is believed to have suffered a medical episode before the crash.

An autopsy on the remains of 62-year-old Michael O’Sullivan, who died in a fire in his flat on Togher Rd on Friday evening, was carried out at Cork City Morgue  on Sunday morning. 

Gardaí ruled out a criminal investigation into the death following the results of the autopsy, as well as the outcome of a technical examination at the three-storey flats complex just off Togher Rd, close to The Lough.

Mr O’Sullivan lived alone in the flat and was well known locally.

Four units of Cork City Fire Brigade rushed to the scene and brought the blaze under control quickly on Friday evening. It is understood that the blaze was confined to one room in the flat.

However, when firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the building to check for occupants, they found a man’s body inside.

A woman who was also in the flat managed to escape.

Shocked neighbours spoke afterwards of how they spotted smoke and heard shouts for help coming from the flat just before 7pm and they ran to help. One woman who lives nearby braved intense smoke on a landing to help the female occupant of the flat to safety.

She was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. But the smoke was so thick, neighbours couldn’t get inside to help the man.

His remains were taken to the Cork City Morgue and the flat was sealed off as investigating gardaí sought to establish if the fire was suspicious or not. The technical examination concluded at lunchtime on Saturday and officers kept an open mind until the results of the post-mortem examination on Sunday afternoon.

Sources told the Irish Examiner that the fire is now deemed to have been accidental and a file will be prepared for the Cork City Coroner, ahead of an inquest into the death in the coming months.

Local Fianna Fáil councillor Fergal Dennehy said the tragedy had rocked the community in Togher.

“This is a terrible tragedy which has shocked the neighbours and friends in this normally quiet and tight-knit community,” he said. “It’s a lovely little area known locally as ‘The Square’, where everyone knows everyone, and where everyone looks out for each other. Our thoughts and prayers are with the deceased and their family at this difficult time.”

Dunmanway crash

Meanwhile, a file is also being prepared for a coroner’s inquest following the death of a man in his 60s near Dunmanway on Saturday evening. Donal O’Donovan of Shanagh, Dunmanway, was found when a passing motorist spotted his car crashed at Tigh an Droichead, Gortnamucklagh, at around 6.30pm on Saturday. 

Gardaí and the national ambulance service responded to the scene after the motorist raised the alarm. Mr O’Donovan, who worked as a photographer, was pronounced dead at the scene.

His remains were removed to Cork City Morgue for an autopsy. The results will be included in the file for the coroner.

The road remained closed overnight on Saturday night while gardaí carried out an investigation.

However, it is believed Mr O’Donovan suffered a medical episode prior to the crash.