The arrests come in tandem with searches that are being carried out at domestic residences in Kildare and Offaly

12:47, 12 Dec 2025Updated 13:35, 12 Dec 2025

Mary Holt, 60 and little four year-old, Tadgh Farrell.

Gardai have arrested four men in prison over a behind bars scrap they suspect is linked to the double murders of a four year-old and his grandaunt.

The Irish Mirror has learned that gardai made the arrests in relation to an assault incident which occurred last Friday night in the Midlands Prison – which they suspect may have sparked the firebomb attack that claimed the lives of young Tadhg Farrell and Mary Holt to be ordered in an act of revenge. In an update this morning gardai said they arrested four men aged in their 20s and 30s in connection with the assault.

“This morning 12th December 2025, investigating Gardaí from the Serious Crime Unit, Laois/Offaly Garda Division have arrested 4 males (aged in their 20s and 30s) at the Midlands Prison, Portlaoise. All four males are being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Garda Stations in the Garda Eastern Region,” gardai said.

The arrests come in tandem with searches that are being carried out at domestic residences in Kildare and Offaly by gardai investigating the horrific double murders of Tadhg and Mary Holt at a house in Edenderry last Saturday. It also came in advance of the little boy’s funeral, which took place at midday.

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As this paper revealed earlier in the week, a prisoner who is known to the deceased is suspected to have become involved in a behind bars scrap with another prisoner – hours before the murders. It is suspected but not confirmed that the scorned prisoner may have told his criminal associates on the outside about the incident who then decided to carry out the firebomb attack in an act of revenge.

Sources have confirmed that none of the four arrested men are the prisoner who is suspected of actually carrying out the assault. However sources confirmed the four men have been arrested in connection with that same assault.

It comes as gardai took the unusual step of releasing CCTV footage of the moment two young thugs smashed up windows of the home and hurled the firebomb into the front room window of the home. Speaking from the scene Chief Superintendent Anthony Lonergan, 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.”

In an update gardai said they continue to investigate all the circumstances of a fatal house fire that occurred at a domestic residence in Castleview Park, Edenderry, Co. Offaly on the evening of Saturday 6th December, 2025.

“While this was a reckless, callous and murderous attack on a family home An Garda Síochána continues to keep an open mind as to the reasons and motives for this attack,” they stated.

“On Saturday 6th December 2025 4-year-old Tadhg Farrell was visiting his grandmother and his grand-aunt Mary Holt at Castleview Park, Edenderry, Co. Offaly. On Saturday 6th December 2025 the Christmas Tractor Run took place in Edenderry at 6pm, attended by over 250 tractors raising money for local charitable causes. Shortly before 7.45pm this family home at Castleview Park was attacked. The remains of Tadhg and his grandaunt Mary were discovered in the front room of the house where the fire was deliberately started,” gardai added.

Tadhg’s grandmother continues to receive hospital treatment for serious burn injuries, they said. “The Garda investigation into the murder of Tadhg Farrell and Mary Holt continues to be led by the Serious Crime Unit Laois/ Offaly Garda Division, supported by all necessary resources from Laois/ Offaly Garda Division, the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI), the Garda Síochána Analysis Service and other National Units.

Postmortem examinations on the remains of Tadhg Farrell and Mary Holt have been completed, gardai added. The results of the postmortem examinations are not being released for operational reasons.The spokesperson continued: “An Garda Síochána through family liaison officers continue to liaise with and support the families of Tadhg and Mary at this time as they prepare for family funerals.

“To date the Garda investigation team has carried out over 150 investigative jobs, carried out over 250 house to house enquiries, retrieved over 60 pieces of CCTV and taken over 100 written documents. An Garda Síochána acknowledges the support shown by the local community in Edenderry, and wider area, to the families and to An Garda Síochána.

“Tadhg should be with his family today. His grandaunt Mary should be working in a local nursing home where she worked for over 40 years helping her community.”

Death notices for both Tadhg and Mary were released on RIP.ie on Wednesday and Thursday respectively. Young Tadhg’s death notice stated that his “sudden and tragic passing has left his family and friends heartbroken.”

“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 Nevaeh, great-grandmother Marian, aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives and friends,” the notice added.

The notice for Mary Holt stated that she was predeceased by her parents Micháel and Peg, sister Caroline and brother-in-law Pat.

“Mary’s tragic passing has left her family, friends & work colleagues in Ofalia House devastated and heartbroken. She will be sadly missed and forever remembered by her loving family: brothers and sisters Michael, Johnny, Margaret, Christy, Declan, Pauline and Brendan, their husbands, wives and partners, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, relatives, friends and especially her work colleagues in Ofalia House, Edenderry,” it stated.

Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan said on Monday it was a “murderous attack” that was “designed to kill” those living in the house. Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he confirmed one line of inquiry is that it was carried out by those involved in the drugs trade.He said if this is the case, “it just confirms that drugs are destroying societies, and people who get involved in drugs need to know that they will wreak devastation, not just on themselves, but on those close to them and families in the area”.

This was an attack that was designed to kill the inhabitants,” he said, adding that gardaí will “relentlessly pursue the violent and dangerous criminals responsible for this murderous attack”. On Sunday, Supt Liam Geraghty said gardaí believe the house “was attacked” by one or a number of perpetrators and the fire deliberately started. He added it was “a reckless, callous and murderous attack on a family home”.

Gardaí have opened a double murder investigation, led by a senior investigating officer at Tullamore Garda station. 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.

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