Gardaí are investigating the circumstances that led to the death of a man in a house in New Ross, Co Wexford.
The death is not being treated as suspicious but they say the man, who was living alone in Charlton Hill in the town, was dead for a considerable time.
A neighbour said the man may have been in the house for up to a month before he was discovered.
Understood to have been in his 50s, he was a separated father-of-two who moved to the housing estate three years ago.
He was renting a mid-terrace house privately and it is understood he had been working in a local company, however it is not known if and when he left that company.
Neighbours noticed a bad smell over the past week but when they looked in the back of the house, they could not see the man.
When the smell persisted they contacted gardaí today, who forced their way into the house this evening. They found the father-of-two dead at the top of the stairs.
A post mortem examination will take place on his body at Waterford Regional Hospital tomorrow to establish how and when he died. It is believed he died of natural causes.
Gardaí say they know the identity of the man and have been in touch with his family, some of whom live in England.
A number of neighbours said it would be weeks or longer at a time before they would see the man.
Two years ago, when he was not seen for a few weeks, a neighbour rang and left a message and he responded a few days later saying he was in England.
Gardaí say this is a tragic situation and want anybody who knows about the man and his last known sightings to contact them at New Ross Garda Station on 051-421204.
