A 35-year-old woman who suffered from multiple sclerosis (MS) died when she failed to escape from her blazing Co Limerick home on Thursday night.
The dead woman was named as Ms Louise Kitt from Dunkip, Meanus, Co Limerick.
Her 65-year-old mother was taken to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital where she was treated for smoke inhalation and shock.
Gardaí were waiting to speak to the elderly lady yesterday evening to determine what started the blaze that destroyed the family home.
"The fire started some time between 8.30 p.m and 9 p.m. The victim's mother was outside the house at the time talking to a neighbour and her daughter was inside when the fire started," Garda Supt Eddie McKeown, who is heading the investigation, explained to reporters.
"We are still not sure what started the fire and we are waiting to speak to the victim's mother, who obviously is still in an awful state of shock," he added.
It is understood the fire quickly engulfed the entire house, which was subsequently gutted.
According to locals, the 35-year-old woman was not entirely bed-ridden but did suffer from acute MS which would have hindered a prompt escape.
Gardaí say it is too early yet to determine the cause of the blaze. They are not, however, ruling out the possibility that it may have started from a fault with an electrical appliance.
Neighbours of the Kitt family said they were "shocked and deeply saddened" by Thursday night's tragedy.