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Postmortem completed for tragic brother of petrol bomb victims who died in Offaly house fire

Christopher Holt, who was in his 60s, died when a fire broke out at the home he was residing in

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Christy 'Crunchie' Holt.

A postmortem examination of a man who died in a fire at the same house where his sister and grandnephew were killed has been completed.

Christopher Crunchie Holt, who was in his 60s, died when a fire broke out at the home he was residing in at Castleview Park in Edenderry, Co Offaly in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

It is the same property where his sister Mary Holt and his grandnephew Tadhg Farrell (4) perished when a petrol bomb was hurled at it during a terrifying gangland attack on December 6 last year.

In an update this evening, garda say the results of the post-mortem examination are not being released for operational reasons, and a file is now being prepared for the Coroner. However, it is understood that no foul play is suspected and that it was a tragic accident.

Speaking to the Irish Mirror, Mr Holts niece Jessie Judge said the family had been told how he had been keeping himself warm at night by lighting candles in the home - ever since his sister Mary was killed in the fire last December.

We were told he had a candle there to keep him warm. He never used to light candles. Id say there wasnt any ESB in the house because they had to disconnect it. So he was living in the dark, Jessie said.

Paying tribute to her uncle, Jessie said she wanted people to know that he was a kind person, who despite having some troubles, was harmless.

Crunchie was a kind, caring person. Hed look after anyone. He put his kids before himself as well. Hes got two beautiful kids. His daughter had a child not long ago.

I found out through a phone call this morning. My mother was Christys sister. I heard he was sleeping upstairs. I dont know whether he was sleeping rough or what way it was.

Jessie, who is also a nice of the late Mary Holt, said this horrific fire has brought the trauma of what they suffered last December right back again.

Its like its happened all over again. That was horrendous, it was two innocent people. Tadhg was only a baby. With this its all still fairly early and we dont know exactly why it happened.

And Jessie told how her uncle, who it is suspected had been squatting in the badly damaged home in recent weeks, was himself left totally distraught by the loss of Mary and Tadhg.

He was OK, but he was very lost in himself. He was walking around with his head down and looked like he was very depressed.

He thought Mary was standing beside him and he could hear her in the house. He thought he could hear her downstairs in the kitchen. But Mary was not there, shes in heaven, Jessie said.

Her uncle was known around town for collecting bottles and cans which he would take to recycle - making money to keep himself going.

Youd see Crunchie anywhere around town. Id a can of Heineken by the front door and hed say, Can I have that can? so he took the can. Thats how he survived, Jessie explained.

He was just a funny, kind, caring person that looked after anyone. Just because he had an addiction doesnt mean he was a bad person. I just want Christy to be remembered as a funny, kind and caring person with a bubbly heart.

He had nowhere to go. He is going to be sadly missed. I just want people to remember him for who he was.

Jessie added that the family still havent given up hope on securing justice for Mary and Tadhg - as gardai continue to investigate the shocking double murders.

Were still hopeful to get justice for Mary and Tadhg. Two innocent people who had a very tragic death, she said.

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