A father and son, aged in their 80s and 50s, have died in a house fire in Co Tipperary.
The blaze broke out at a two-storey property in Littleton, near Thurles, at around 2.30am.
The men have been named locally as Stephen Lee and his son John.
Their bodies were found at the scene on McDonagh Terrace in the village.
Neighbours raised the alarm after hearing a commotion at the back of the house and two units of Tipperary Fire and Rescue Service attended the blaze which caused extensive smoke damage.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is under way.
Gardaí and fire service personnel have carried out a technical examination inside the house, but it is believed the blaze started accidentally.
Stephan Lee lived in the house and his son, John, visited regularly on a Sunday night to care for him.
Their wife and mother only died a short time ago and a sibling some years ago.
The family is well known and well liked in the comunity and locals have been left shocked by the deaths.
Norma McCarthy, who lives across the road, said they were lovely people and that John was a regular visitor to his father's house.
Seamus Corbett, who also lives nearby, is caretaker at the national school beside the house.
He said that it is shocking news and people are devasted to hear it, particularly coming up to Christmas.
Councillor Sean Ryan, a native of the village, who grew up down the road and went to school with the Lee siblings, said the community was numbed by the tragedy.
The family are very connected to the community and involved in activities in the area, he said.
Cllr Ryan added that all locals can do now is offer sympathy to the family and give them their full support.
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