Cork mourns as ‘kind man’ Peter dies in a house fire

A man who died in a fire in Cork city over the weekend has been described as an “extraordinary man” who “didn’t have a bad bone in his body”.

Peter Lyall, 62, died when his home in the Ardcullen area of Hollyhill on Cork city’s northside caught fire on Sunday night.

Mr Lyall was a popular figure in his area and was master brewer at the Franciscan Well Brewery in the city.

A woman in her 60s, understood to have been Mr Lyall’s partner, was injured in the blaze but managed to escape.

Mary Crilly of the Cork Sexual Violence Centre was a friend of Mr Lyall’s.

“I would have met him maybe ten years ago,” she said.

“The kind of guy who would do anything for you in a blink.

“You just enjoy seeing him because of the light in his eyes. He was just a really generous, kind man and had a great sense of humour.

“He was just a great guy.

“I really miss him. I think everybody will really miss him,” added Ms Crilly.

Another person who knew Mr Lyall personally is Fianna Fáil Cllr Tony Fitzgerald who said: “Very sad day for Ardcullen with the passing of Peter Lyall. Peter was a very quiet, nice man. God rest his soul.”

The alarm was raised at approximately 12.45am on Sunday night/Monday morning and emergency services rushed to the scene.

Mr Lyall was pronounced dead at the scene and the woman was treated for non-life-threatening injuries before being brought by ambulance to CUH.

The fire was successfully extinguished by Cork City Fire Brigade and the scene was preserved for a technical examination which gardaí have said has now been completed.

Gardaí also confirmed that enquiries are ongoing to establish the cause of the fire.