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LAST UPDATE | 7 Dec 2025
GARDAÍ HAVE LAUNCHED a murder investigation after a woman and child died in a house fire in Edenderry, Co. Offaly, yesterday evening.
The victims have been named by gardaí are Mary Holt (60) and Tadhg Farrell (4) – a third victim, a woman in her 50s, is being treated for injuries she sustained in the fire at the house in Castleview Park in the town.
Gardaí believe that the house was attacked by a one or more people, and that the fire was deliberately started.
“This was a reckless, callous and murderous attack on a family home,” gardaí said in a statement.
Emergency services, including Offaly Fire and Rescue Service, National Ambulance Service and Gardaí responded to the fire shortly before 7.45pm. The fire was extinguished and the remains of two persons – a woman aged 60 and a 4-year-old boy – were discovered deceased.
It is believed they are related to each other. A second woman (50s) is receiving treatment for serious injuries at a hospital in the Midlands.
In a statement, gardaí said that a murder investigation has been launched into the incident.
“The house has been declared a crime scene and is currently subject to technical examination by the Garda Technical Bureau,” they said.
The office of the Local Coroner and the State Pathologist have been notified and post-mortems will be carried out on the remains by the Assistant State Pathologist Margot Bolster at the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore this afternoon.
The investigation is being coordinated from an incident room at Tullamore Garda Station under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer. A Family Liaison Officer has been appointed to the families.
Gardaí said they belive that “the house was attacked by a person or persons unknown at this time, and that the fire was deliberately started”.
In a statement, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said: “I strongly condemn the deliberate callous attack on a house in Edenderry, Offaly which sadly resulted in the loss of two lives including a young child. T
“There is no place in a civilised society for such heinous violence. I join An Garda Siochana in appealing to anyone with information to come forward.”
Gardaí are appealing for any person with any information to come forward.
“Gardaí want to speak with any person who was in the vicinity of Castleview Park, or adjoining roads between 7.00pm and 8.00pm, yesterday Saturday 6th December 2025 to speak with investigating Gardaí,” the force said.
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.
Commenting on the incident, local Independent Ireland councillor Fergus McDonnell, who lives nearby, said the local community was in shock, and extended his sympathies to the family of the bereaved.
“I have concerns for the fact that it happened and have huge sympathy to family of the bereaved,” he said.
With reporting from Emma Hickey.
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