TRIPLE MURDER PROBE IN HOUSE FIRE TRAGEDY
Blaze which killed sisters and aunt was deliberate
GARDAI have launched a triple murder investigation after it emerged a historic fatal house fire which killed two young children and their aunt was deliberate.
On September 20, 1987, the bodies of Barbara Doyle, 20, Mary Ellen Byrne, eight, and three-year-old Kerrie Byrne were recovered following a blaze at Kilcock, Co Kildare. On the night of the tragedy, the young girls parents, Aidan and Elizabeth, had gone to a local 21st birthday party. Elizabeth’s sister Barbara babysat her two nieces in their home on Church Lane during which a fire broke out between 3am and 4am on Sunday. The investigation has stayed open since but took an unexpected twist when gardai said yesterday significant new evidence had emerged which suggested the fire had been started deliberately. It’s understood members of the Garda Serious Crime Review Team started looking at the case again in great detail five-years-ago. A source told the Irish Mirror there are a number of avenues which may have led to the latest breakthrough. The source said: “The officers involved are keeping their new evidence very close to their chests. “However, it’s believed either a new witness has come forward in the case or that DNA evidence was found on some kids’ clothes that were found outside the house. It has never been established how the clothing made its way outside the property. “That may have held vital DNA evidence which at the time wouldn’t have been able to be tested.” A Garda spokesman said yesterday: “The investigation has now been upgraded to a murder investigation. “An incident room has been established at Leixlip Garda station and the Serious Crime Review Team are assisting local investigators.” Speaking at the station, Chief Superintendent Gerard Roche added: “We are satisfied there are people who will remember this fire and the deaths of Barbara, Mary Ellen, and Kerrie, and who have not yet spoken to gardai. “We are appealing to any person who has any information to contact Leixlip garda station at 016667800 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111. “I would further appeal that the privacy of the Byrne and Doyle families is respected at this time.” The murdered girls’ mother still lives in the house and the family have been informed of the developments in the case.