Gardaí believe the cause of a house fire in which an elderly woman died this morning in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, was accidental.
Mrs Maru Fallan (84) died when a fire broke out in the downstairs of her home, where she was sleeping, at Castlefrench in Ballynamor Bridge, Ballinasloe. Her son, who also lives in the house, discovered the fire and called the fire brigade at about 6 a.m.
Her body was taken to Portuincula Hospital, Ballinasloe. A garda spokeswoman said it appears the fire was started accidentally. No one else was injured in the incident.