A post mortem last night revealed fatal head injuries sustained by the grandfather of television magician Keith Barry were consistent with a fall.

Detectives said a preliminary autopsy showed no specific evidence of an attack on pensioner Paddy Barry during a robbery at his home last Wednesday night.

The 82-year-old widower - who has not regained consciousness since the break-in - died in hospital yesterday morning.

It had been feared he was the victim of a violent assault in the house in Waterford, south east Ireland. His devastated grandson Keith Barry, a magician who has staged sell-out shows in Las Vegas, paid tribute to his beloved grandfather.

"He was a wonderful man - a great father, an amazing grandfather, a doting great grandfather and he will be missed by not only his family but his neighbours and community," he said in a family statement.

A man was arrested in relation to the incident and released without charge. A file has been prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

A senior officer said despite the post mortem update, the case was still a very serious matter.

"No matter what happened he died as a result of somebody breaking into his house," he added.

The pensioner had been withdrawing money from a Credit Union account prior to the break-in at the Mount Sion Avenue area, where Mr Barry had lived for 60 years.

Ireland's Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy vowed to bring those responsible to justice.

"I want to pay my condolences and sympathy to the wider Barry family, this is a sad day for them," he said.

"But I want to reassure them and to reassure the public that the Garda Siochana will do everything in their power to solve this crime and bring the people, or the person, who might have committed it, to justice."

Age Action and the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament also condemned the incident.

Eamon Timmins, of Age Action, said Mr Barry had been the victim of one the most callous, cold-hearted forms of crime.

"This attack must act as a wake-up call to all communities to ensure their older members are taking basic precautions to prevent crime," said Mr Timmins.

The victim's grandson last week hit out at the justice system and said other pensioners living in the quiet part of the city were petrified.

Mr Barry also called for mandatory three-year prison sentences for criminals who break into pensioners' homes.

The country's Law Reform Commission is drafting a Bill on complex legislation to tackle rules around break-ins and what a householder can do to protect themselves.

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern is planning to table reforms before Christmas.

Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice Brendan Kenneally said he would seek the support of members to investigate legislation into the rights of homeowners to protect themselves against trespassers breaking into their properties.

"Under current law, a person defending their home with the use of non-fatal force can face criminal charges," he added.