Tragic family of five likely to have been victims of murder-suicide

A FAMILY of five found dead in their countryside home in Ireland were most likely victims of a murder-suicide, investigators believe.

The bodies of a father, aged in his 40s, his wife, aged in her 30s, and their three sons – aged 13, 11 and six – were discovered at the house in Oakdene Downs in the townland of Barconey, near Ballyjamesduff, in Co Cavan.

Garda assistant commissioner John O’Driscoll said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

“We believe all the answers are within that house – so the most likely scenario is one person may have caused the death of the others,” he said “All the circumstances will be explored but as it stands that is the position.”

Mr O’Driscoll described the case as sensitive.

Two of the bodies were found in a downstairs room while three others were discovered upstairs in bedrooms.

Investigating Gardai have found no evidence that a firearm was used.

The street was sealed off by police tape as a fleet of hearses left taking the bodies to a mortuary for postmortem examinations to be carried out.

A technical examination was being carried out at the property.

A number of objects found in the house are also being subjected to “detailed technical examination”.

The family had been mixing with the local community on Sunday and did not raise any suspicions as to what would later happen, Mr O’Driscoll told reporters.

“Nothing had happened prior to this grim discovery that gave rise to anyone having any suspicion that anything was untoward and this family were engaged with the community and seen yesterday,” he said.

“None of the activity and interaction with other people gave rise to any suspicion as to what was to happen.”

The alarm was raised at about 10:45am yesterday after someone, thought to be a relative, called to the house but got no answer.

Two officers dispatched to the scene from Monaghan Garda station gained entry to the house and made the grim discovery.