The results of post mortems and a technical examination will decide the nature of a Garda investigation into a fatal house fire in south Roscommon.
A man in his 50s, and a woman in her 40s, both died following the blaze at a house in Gurth, Moore, overnight.
A technical examination of the scene of the fire which claimed the lives of a couple continues this evening in south Roscommon.
Locals have expressed their shock after fire services were alerted to a blaze at a dormer bungalow just a few hundred meters from Rooty Cross at around 2am.
The blaze in the upstairs of the dormer bungalow was first noticed by neighbours who raised the alarm with three units of local fire brigades rushing to the scene. When they arrived, they discovered the bodies of a man and a woman in the home and they were pronounced dead.
Their remains were removed from the house and post mortem examinations are currently underway at Galway University Hospital. The couple are well known in the area and they have not yet been named as efforts continue to contact all relatives.
South Roscommon councillor John Naughten says the community is coming together to support the families.
The roof of the house has been completely destroyed with extensive damage reported throughout the home, which was built in 1998. Forensic experts have been on site since early morning in efforts to determine the exact cause of the blaze.
Gardai have confirmed that the results of their technical examination, as well as the post mortems, will determine the course of their investigation.
The state pathologist Margaret Bolster has been informed of the deaths, and Gardai at Clonark Garda station are appealing to anyone who may have been in the area last night, or seen the couple in the last number of days to contact them at 090 6437102.
