An Irish pensioner found burnt to death at his home died from spontaneous human combustion, an inquest has concluded.

The West Galway coroner, Ciaran McLoughlin, said there was no other adequate explanation for the death of Michael Faherty, 76, also known as Micheal O Fatharta.

He said it was the first time in his 25 years as a coroner that he had returned such a verdict.

A police crime scene investigator and a senior fire officer told the inquest in Galway they could not explain how Mr Faherty burnt to death.

Both said they had not come across such a set of circumstances before.