"Fly with the Angels": Heartbroken Offaly family's tribute to four-year-old Tadgh

The family of Tadgh Farrell, the four-year-old boy who was killed in last weekend's arson attack at a house in Edenderry, said he is now "softly held in the arms of Angels".

The little boy lost his life alongside his grand-aunt, Mary Holt (60) when a house in Castleview Park was attacked and set alight on Saturday evening.

A death notice has now been published for Tadgh Farrell, of Killane Drive, Edenderry. It states that the child's "sudden and tragic passing has left his family and friends heartbroken".

It adds: "Softly held in the arms of Angels he will be forever missed and remembered by his loving family: mother Shannon, Dad Aaron, grandmothers Karen and Pauline, granddad Richard, sisters Ella Brooke, Heidi Lee and Neveah, great-grandmother Marian, aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives and friends. Fly with the Angels."

Tadgh's funeral arrangements will be made later.

Meanwhile, Derry Rovers football club in Edenderry said it will be holding a candlelit vigil in the aftermath of the tragedy at its club grounds Brian's Park (Eircode: R45W935) this evening (Wednesday) at 8pm.

While the victims of Saturday's attack were entirely innocent, Gardai are investigating whether the fatal attacks were caused by people linked with the drugs trade.

In its notice about this evening's vigil, the Derry Rovers club said the event had been organised "as a stance against the drugs scourge in our community and the loss of an innocent child."

The club said last weekend's events "shook the town of Edenderry to its core" and that the town was "still reeling in shock as it comes to terms with the scale of the sad loss of lives in the fire at Castleview Park".

"(This evening) we ask everyone from Edenderry and beyond far and wide in the surrounding areas to come and join us as one community united in support and solidarity at 8pm for our vigil. People can bring candles if preferred as they take part on the night.

"Parking will be available at our club grounds and down the school lane but we would ask where possible to walk to our club grounds, as a large crowd is expected and there is only so many parking spaces nearby.

"There will be prayers offered on the night as part of the vigil," the club added.