Mary Holt, 60, and Tadhg Farrell, four, tragically died following the blaze at a house on Castleview Park in Edenderry, Co Offaly on Saturday evening – a murder investigation is now underway
A murder probe has been initiated following a house fire that took the lives of two individuals in Co Offaly.
Mary Holt, 60, and Tadhg Farrell, four, tragically lost their lives in the blaze at a property on Castleview Park in Edenderry around 7.45pm on Saturday. Another woman, in her 50s, is currently receiving treatment in hospital for injuries sustained.
Post-mortem examinations were scheduled to take place on Sunday. Superintendent Liam Geraghty confirmed the launch of a murder investigation during a press briefing at Edenderry Garda Station on Sunday.
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He stated that they suspect the house was targeted by an individual or individuals unknown at this point, and that the fire was intentionally set. He characterised the incident as a “reckless, callous and murderous attack on a family home”.
Irish Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan vehemently condemned what he labelled as a “deliberate callous attack” on the residence.
“There is no place in a civilised society for such heinous violence. I join An Garda Siochana in appealing to anyone with information to come forward,” he told RTE.
Earlier, Mr Geraghty informed the media: “Emergency services, including Offaly Fire and Rescue Service, National Ambulance Service and Gardai responded to the fire shortly before 7.45pm.
“The fire was extinguished and the remains of two persons, a woman aged 60 and a four-year-old boy, were discovered deceased.A second woman, aged in her 50s, was transported from the scene by the National Ambulance Service and is receiving hospital treatment for serious injuries.
“The house has been declared a crime scene and is currently subject to technical examination by the Garda technical bureau. The office of the local coroner and the state pathologist have been notified.”
He added: “The remains of both deceased have been removed from the scene and post-mortems will be carried out by the assistant state pathologist Margot Bolster at the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore, commencing this afternoon.
“This murder investigation is being co-ordinated from an incident room at Tullamore garda station under the direction of a senior investigating officer.
“An Garda Siochana believes that the house was attacked by a person or persons unknown at this time, and that the fire was deliberately started. This was a reckless, callous and murderous attack on a family home.”
Gardai are appealing for anyone with information about the incident to come forward and speak with investigating officers.
They’re particularly keen to speak with anyone who was in the area of Castleview Park, or nearby roads between 7pm and 8pm on Saturday, or who was driving through the vicinity of Castleview Park, or surrounding roads between 7pm and 8pm on Saturday, and may have any dashcam video footage or images to contact investigating Gardai.
The investigation team can be reached at the incident room at Tullamore garda station on 057 932 7600, the garda confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station, especially Edenderry garda station.
