Northern Ireland

Body of man found at house in east Belfast following fire

Forensic officers at the scene of a house fire in east Belfast's Edenvale Crescent, where the body of a man was discovered following the blaze on Sunday night. Picture by Hugh Russell
Forensic officers at the scene of a house fire in east Belfast's Edenvale Crescent, where the body of a man was discovered following the blaze on Sunday night. Picture by Hugh Russell Forensic officers at the scene of a house fire in east Belfast's Edenvale Crescent, where the body of a man was discovered following the blaze on Sunday night. Picture by Hugh Russell

POLICE in east Belfast are investigating the cause of a fire at a house in east Belfast in which the body of a man was discovered.

The fire was reported to emergency services shortly before 8pm on Sunday evening at Edenvale Crescent in the Belmont Road area of the city.

A spokesperson for the NI Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters using breathing apparatus entered the property and extinguished the blaze.

"Tragically, one person has been found deceased at the property," the spokesperson said, adding that the cause of the fire "remains under investigation".

A PSNI spokesperson said officers attended the scene alongside firefighters and that an investigation was underway.

East Belfast DUP MP Gavin Robinson said: "My thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family and the emergency services who attended the incident."

Ulster unionist councillor for the area, Carole Howard said: "This is a tragedy for the area and the man's loved ones, and my thoughts are with them as they come to terms with what has occurred."