Five were hospitalised in Galway following a fire in a city-centre apartment block at 7am yesterday.

Garda� are investigating the cause of the blaze.

An elderly Dublin man was taken to hospital and is being treated for serious burns he received in a fire at a block of flats at St Mary's Place, Cabra. He is said to be in a serious condition at the Mater Hospital.

A number of garda� were also treated for smoke inhalation after going to investigate the fire which occurred at around midnight on Friday. It is thought that it was started accidentally.