Gardaí are working to identify suspects for an arson attack on a house in Co Offaly over the weekend, which claimed the lives of a young boy and his grandaunt.
Four-year-old Tadhg Farrell and his 60-year-old grand-aunt Mary Holt were killed in a blaze which happened at a terraced house in Castleview Park in Edenderry on Saturday evening.
Another woman was seriously injured and is being treated at the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore.
Gardaí have described it as “callous, reckless and a murderous attack on a family home”.
One line of investigation is that the attack may have been carried out by an organised criminal gang involved in the drugs trade in the Midlands.
However, the victims were entirely innocent and it’s understood the house may have been targeted in a case of drug debt intimidation.
It is understood that a petrol bomb was thrown in the front window of the house sometime before 8pm on Saturday evening.
Sources say the attack was carried out by violent and dangerous criminals, intent on causing serious harm.
Post mortem examinations were carried out by the Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster yesterday afternoon.
The scene remains sealed off today, as further technical and forensic examinations continue.
Castleview Park is a long established housing estate close to the town.
Independent Ireland councillor Fergus McDonnell, who lived in the estate for twenty years, said yesterday the town and area were distraught by what had unfolded on Saturday evening
Gardaí say they were alerted to a fire at the family home in Edenderry shortly before 8pm on Saturday (Photo: RollingNews)
Minister of Justice Jim O’Callaghan also condemned the attack which he said cannot be part of a civilised society.
“When you look at those deaths, and when you look at the visible damage to the property, what this shows is that this was an attack that was designed to kill the inhabitants” said Minister O’Callaghan.
“In the first instance, I want to extend my condolences to the family.”
“But I also want them to know, and I want the public to know, that the gardaí will relentlessly pursue the violent and dangerous criminals responsible for this murderous attack and they will be brought to justice,” Minister O’Callaghan added.
The minister also moved to reassure people living in Edenderry, who may be in fear, that gardai are following a definite line of inquiry and will relentlessly pursue those behind the attack.