Gardai "keeping an open mind" on motive for fatal Offaly attack

Gardai said this evening (Wednesday) that they are keeping "an open mind as to the reasons and motives" for the attack on a house which claimed two lives in Offaly last weekend.

Saturday evening's arson attack in the Castleview Park estate in Edenderry resulted in the deaths of four-year-old Tadgh Farrell and his 60-year-old grand aunt Mary Holt, while Tadgh's grandmother, aged in her 50s, continues to receive hospital treatment for serious burn injuries.

In the days since the attack, Gardai said the Tullamore-based investigation team had "carried out over 250 house-to-house enquiries, retrieved over 60 pieces of CCTV, and taken over 100 written documents".

An Garda Síochána described the incident as "a reckless, callous and murderous attack on a family home".

Tadgh Farrell, who lived nearby at Killane Drive in Edenderry, had been visiting his grandmother and his grand-aunt, Mary Holt, in Castleview Park when the attack occurred shortly before 7.45pm on Saturday.

The Garda update today mentioned that a large charity event had been taking place in Edenderry earlier on Saturday evening.

"The Christmas Tractor Run took place in Edenderry at 6pm, attended by over 250 tractors raising money for local charitable causes," the statement from the Garda press office said.

Following the attack in Castleview Park, the remains of the two deceased were discovered in the front room of the house.

Gardai said that Tadgh Farrell "should be with his family today" and that his grand-aunt Mary "should be working in a local nursing home where she worked for over 40 years helping her community".

Chief Superintendent Anthony Lonergan, of the Laois/ Offaly Garda Division said: "I want to reassure the community here in Edenderry and throughout Laois/ Offaly Division that I will ensure that An Garda Síochána is here to support you through this traumatic event, but also that An Garda Síochána is determined, and will identify all those responsible for the deaths of Tadhg and Mary and bring them before the courts.

"I appeal directly to any person with any information on this violent fatal incident to speak with investigating Gardaí,” he added.

The Garda investigation into the murder of Tadgh Farrell and Mary Holt is being led by the Serious Crime Unit of Laois/ Offaly Garda Division, supported by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI), the Garda Síochána Analysis Service and other national units.

The results of the post-mortem examinations on the remains of Tadgh Farrell and Mary Holt are not being released for operational reasons.

Gardai said that, through family liaison officers, they are continuing to liaise with and support the families of Tadhg and Mary at this time as they prepare for family funerals.

The force also said it wished to acknowledge the support shown by the local community in Edenderry, and wider area, to the families and to An Garda Síochána.

The investigation team can be contacted at the incident room at Tullamore Garda Station on 057 932 7600, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station, in particular Edenderry Garda Station.