POST MORTEM EXAMINATIONS will take place on the bodies of three members of one family who were found dead in a home yesterday, gardaí have said.

The victims have been named as parents Louise Doherty O’Connor (56) and Mark O’Connor (54), and their 27-year-old son Evan O’Connor.

A man in his 30s was arrested yesterday near the scene. It is believed medical assistance had been sought for the suspect.

Speaking outside Drogheda Garda Station this morning, Superintendent Andrew Watters told reporters that gardaí are continuing an investigation into all of the circumstances of the incident, but said they are not looking for any other person in connection with their investigation. 

Watters said that shortly before 10am yesterday, gardaí received a call to attend a house at Drumgowna in Tallanstown, Co Louth.

He said that when they arrived at the house, uniform gardaí discovered Mark, Louise and Evan deceased. 

“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha. The O’Connor family are a very well-known and respected family,” he said. 

They are very good neighbours and friends, and an integral part of the local community in Drumgowna, but also in the extended area across the counties of Louth and Monaghan.

A family liaison officer has been assigned to support the O’Connor family.

Superintendent Andrew Watters speaks to media from Drogheda Garda Station after three people were found dead at their home in Drumgowna yesterday.

He asks that the O’Connor family’s privacy is respected. @thejournal_ie pic.twitter.com/fskMusAcoH

— Diarmuid Pepper (@Diarmuid_9) September 30, 2025

“An Garda Síochána will keep the family informed of the ongoing investigation and we will support them as they come to terms with this tragedy. I am appealing for privacy for the family at this time,” Watters said. 

“An Garda Sochána will also closely support the local community in the Drumgowna and surrounding area over the coming days and weeks as they also come to terms with the violent death of their neighbours.”

Watters confirmed that the man arrested near the scene yesterday remains in custody at a Garda Station in the Louth area under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

A forensic examination of the scene by the Garda National Technical Bureau and Divisional Search Team is ongoing, and the offices of the Coroner and the State Pathologist have been notified.

“Yesterday evening, the remains of the deceased were removed from the scene to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. Post mortem examinations will commence this morning,” Watters said. 

An incident room has been established at Ardee Garda Station and a senior investigating officer has been appointed to oversee the investigation.

Watters appealed to any person with any information about the incident to contact the Garda investigation team by calling Drogheda Garda Station at 041 987 4200, the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

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The community in Drumgowna, an area between Louth village and Tallanstown, on the Louth and Monaghan border, has said it will come together and stand by one another following the tragic incident. 

Local priest Fr Gerry Campbell said the community is “devastated and numbed” by the tragedy. 

He told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that it is clear from speaking to neighbours that Mark and Louise were a “lovely couple who did so much for their local community” and who were “totally devoted to their son Evan”.

Mark was a regional manager for the National Advocacy Service which provides support for people with disabilities.

Louise was a nurse, who taught English to Ukrainian people living in Ireland. She also volunteered in pet rescue centres.

Evan had attended the Drogheda ABACAS school which delivers specialist autism education for children with complex needs. He graduated from the school in 2016, and went on to win an award for his work in the local community.

Fr Campbell said that all the community can do at a time like this is “pray for this family”.