Update:
5.05pm – Mr Behan’s postmortem examination has concluded and Gardaí have confirmed that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
It’s understood that Mr Behan was overcome by smoke and died as a result of smoke inhalation.
Earlier: A postmortem examination will be carried out today on the body of the elderly man who died in a house fire near Knockerra on Tuesday night.
Gardaí are awaiting official confirmation of the man’s identity however the victim has been named locally as 87-year-old Paddy Behan from Tonavoher, Knockerra about 10 kilometres from Kilrush.
The bachelor farmer’s body was discovered inside his farmhouse after fire crews had brought the blaze under control and could safely enter the property. The fire service and Gardaí were alerted by neighbours who spotted the fire at around 10pm.
After the scene was declared safe and handed over to Gardaí, the area was sealed off and preserved overnight for technical examination.
Members of Clare Divisional Crime Scene Investigation unit carried out a technical examination of the scene over several hours yesterday.
The victim’s remains were removed to University Hospital Limerick for a postmortem examination which will take place today (Thursday).
Gardaí continued to preserve the scene for a second night until the results of the autopsy were confirmed.
Gardaí were able to use a fire service hydraulic platform to gain access the roof and chimney area so they could be examined. One of the lines of investigation is whether the fire began in a stove or in the chimney area.
It’s understood that Mr Behan was last seen at around 6.00pm on Tuesday when a friend called with groceries.
Gardaí at Kilrush are investigating the tragedy.
Inspector Paul Slattery said: “The results of the scenes of crime investigation and postmortem examination, when completed, will determine the course of our investigation.”
Initial indications however were that the fire started accidentally.
Tuesdays tragedy was the first fatal house in the county since 2015. There was no fatal fire in Clare last year.