An inquest into the deaths of two men who died in a house fire in Co Cork earlier this year was adjourned after eight witnesses failed to turn up.
Cork County Coroner Frank O'Connell said it was very unusual and did not seem to be a coincidence, when he was told that all eight witnesses - including a number of people who tried to rescue the men - had not turned up in court.
Mr O'Connell said he would be issuing witness summonses and adjourned the case until 24 January 2017.
He said he would be asking gardai for their assistance in making sure the eight attended.
The coroner said an inquest is an essential exercise in the public interest, to allay rumour, and suspicion and incorrect information.
He said the absence of the eight may have arisen out of fear or concern, but he wanted to assure them that this is coroner's court and not a court of justice.
He said the court does not criticise anyone alive or dead - "nobody will be made feel they should have done more, nobody will be criticised in any way."
Before it was adjourned, the court was told that the fatal fire had started in the kitchen, and was most likely caused by a chip pan on the cooker.
Kenny Relihan, who was 26, and 64-year-old Noel O’Mahony died in the fire at the house at St Colman’s Park in Macroom in the early hours of 2 May.
Mr Relihan’s mother jumped from an upstairs window to escape the blaze and was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster said both men died from acute carbon monoxide poisoning due to smoke inhalation.
