A MAN IN his 70s has been found dead in his home after a house fire this morning.

Locals have reported that a number of people were trying to save the pensioner’s life but couldn’t get inside the house in Clonroche, Wexford.

They tried to enter the property when they saw the roof beginning to sink from the heat.

Gardaí are investigating whether an oxygen tank the man used had anything to do with the blaze.

Officers, at this stage, are not treating the fire as suspicious.

Local councillor Michael Sheehan said he was shocked by the news of the man’s passing.

He told TheJournal.ie:

He was an absolute gentleman and would be well-known in the community.

“He would be the fella you’d see in every Irish village, that guy who’d be sitting on the wall watching the world go by.

“He’d have been considered quite the character, a decent skin.”

“He comes from a well-known family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of them at this time.

“I’d also like to commend all the officials who moved so quickly to help him.”

A garda spokesman said they are investigating the fire and that the outcome of the forensic analysis would determine the course of their investigation.

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