Boy, 5, killed in ‘murderous and deliberate’ attack on family home
A 60-year-old woman and a young boy are dead after a ‘reckless and murderous’ attack on a family home.
The bodies were pulled out of the charred remains of a semi-detached home in Edenderry, Ireland at around 7.45pm on Saturday.
Another woman, aged in her 50s, is being treated in hospital for her injuries.
Supt Liam Geraghty confirmed that police believe that the house was attacked by a person or persons unknown and that the fire was deliberately started.
He described the arson as a ‘reckless, callous and murderous attack on a family home’.
Cllr Claire Murray said on Facebook: ‘It is hard to put into words how devastated people are.
‘The loss of such innocent life is inexcusable. May their poor souls rest in eternal peace.
‘Edenderry is a darker place today.’
Irish Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan strongly condemned what he described as a ‘deliberate callous attack’ on the house.
‘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.
(Credits: Aisling Hyland/PA Wire)
SuptGeraghty added: ‘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 any person with any information on the incident to speak with investigating officers.
They have asked to speak with anyone who was in the vicinity of Castleview Park, or adjoining roads between 7pm and 8pm on Saturday, or who was driving in the vicinity of Castleview Park, or adjoining 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 contacted at the incident room at Tullamore garda station on 057 932 7600 or the garda confidential line on 1800 666 111.