The injured man was visiting the home of his friend at The Sycamores.

He was taken to the Intensive Care Unit of the Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore, while the members of the Connell family were also taken to the same hospital.
Mr Duffy was rescued by Tom Connell, who was affected by smoke inhalation.

Richie McDonnell, Station Officer with Edenderry Fire Brigade, said that it was lucky that the fire station was so near the house in question.

He added that the occupants were woken by a smoke alarm. Two tenders and eleven part-time officers were involved in quelling the blaze, while two ambulances ferried the injured to hospital.

Mr McDonnell added that it had taken only two minutes to rescue the four people from the burning house.

The cause of the fire is not yet known, but it was not malicious, he stated. Forensics experts have examined the scene.

Both Mr McDonnell and a Garda spokesman rejected media reports that a laptop was linked to the blaze.