by Andrew Carey
A GARDA technical examination is under way at a farmhouse on the Limerick Cork border after a retired farmer was found dead following a fire at his home on Tuesday night.The body of 78-year-old Ned Hyland, who lived alone, was found at the farmhouse in Castlequarter near Kibehenny County Limerick, as emergency services tackled the blaze that broke out shortly before 11pm. Mr Hyland’s body was removed to the Mid Western Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead.Speaking on Wednesday morning, local county councillor Eddie Ryan said it was a tragic way for a man of his age to die having lived his life so well. He extended sympathy to his nephew John who had tried in vain to rescue him from the fire.Referring to the monitored house alarm that raised the alert, Cllr Ryan said: “It proves that dependence and the system of having the button worked to a fair extent for him. It’s a pity it wasn’t sooner but maybe he was asleep when it happened. If people have it, it can work and it does help”.“He loved his politics and was staunch Fianna Fáil. He would have helped me in elections and loved the cut and thrust of politics and what went with it. He would have canvassed with Gerry Collins going back through the generations. In his day canvassing you would have a job to keep up with him. He remained that fit and healthy person.”“The manner of his death will be the big blow. To die in this manner is a tragedy and a shame”, Cllr Ryan concluded.
via Retired farmer dies in house blaze 269 | Limerick Post Newswrite.
