I'm so glad I finally found this post! In the past (10 years ago or so) you had to use setserial /dev/ttyS0 uart none, but now the correct parameter is unknown. The annoying thing is that the systemlog will tell you the wrong parameter when trying to load serial_ir. And the module still will load without prior correct setserial!
The kernel message in the log isn't wrong, with the setserial program you typically find on Linux installations you have to use the parameter "none".
LibreELEC doesn't use this setserial program but the setserial implementation from busybox and there you have to use "unknown".
so long,
Hias