Funeral arrangements confirmed for Offaly man found after house fire

THE funeral of Edenderry man Christopher Holt will take place in his home town on Sunday.

The body of Christy 'Crunchie' Holt was found upstairs in the house in Castleview Park where a fire broke out in the early hours of Tuesday morning, March 24.

Mr Holt's remains will repose at Larkin's Funeral Home, Edenderry (R45 VK24) this Saturday from 5pm to 7pm with a prayer service at 7pm.

The 57-year-old's funeral Mass is scheduled for Sunday at 2pm in St Mary's Church, Edenderry followed by burial in St Mary's cemetery.

Christy Holt's sister Mary (60) and his grandnephew Tadgh Farrell (four) were also buried in St Mary's Cemetery in December following an arson attack on the house where 'Crunchie' was found.

Pauline Holt, a sister of Christy and Mary and grandmother of Tadgh, was also in the house when it was fire bombed on the evening of December 6 and was hospitalised with serious injuries.

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Christy's death notice on RIP.ie says he passed away tragically.

He was predeceased by his parents Micheál and Peg, sisters Caroline and Mary and brother-in-law Pat.

The death notice says he will be deeply regretted and sadly missed by his family: son Jack, daughter Marcella, grandson Leo, brothers and sisters Michael, Johnny, Margaret, Declan, Pauline and Brendan, their husbands, wives and partners, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, relatives and friends.

While a murder investigation is still ongoing following the deaths of Pauline Holt and Tadgh Farrell, foul play is not suspected in relation to Christy Holt's passing.

Gardai said they were investigating “all the circumstances” of that fire.

A post-mortem examination was carried out on the body of Christy but gardai said for operational reasons they were not releasing the results.

They are preparing a file for the coroner.