The bodies of an elderly couple may have lay dead in their home for more than a year, detectives believe.
Gardai are probing whether the pair, in their 70s, had been in the property all along after they disappeared 18 months ago.
Officers made the tragic discovery after they were called to the South Tipperary address in Ireland on Monday.
Some neighbours were under the impression that the man and woman had moved house as they had not bee seen for so long, the Irish Mirror reports.
“The bodies could have been there for a long, long time," a local source said.
But investigators will have to wait for results of examinations to determine a time frame as to when the couple died.
One person explained how Gardai were made aware of the situation after suspicions grew in recent days.
The source said: “Some neighbours thought they had moved away but sadly that wasn’t the case.
“The couple very much kept to themselves and not many would have known them personally.
"But only on hello terms if they passed them walking or that sort of thing.”
Locals in the area last night said the pair were from England.
The house, in the town of Cloneen, was sealed off on Monday evening as the bodies remained inside for the Garda Technical Bureau to run tests.
Gardai are investigating “all circumstances” but early signs show that there may have been no foul play.
The state pathologist has also been notified of the case.
Cllr Mark Fitzgerald said residents have been left stunned by the discovery.
“The word broke and we are shocked in the community because we’re a rural, close knit community," he said.
“Anyone passing away, it’s always a tragic event. But tragic circumstances like this, it makes it that bit more sad.”
