LAST UPDATE | 23 Jul

A WOMAN AND two children have died in a shooting in Co Fermanagh, police have said.

A fourth person, who was taken to hospital with serious injuries, remains in a serious condition after the incident in the Drummeer Road area of Maguiresbridge.

All four people are members of the same household.

No arrests have been made thus far, but the main suspect has a “limited footprint” with police.

When asked if it is being treated as a murder-suicide, Superintendent Robert McGowan said that is “one line of inquiry”.

“This was a very difficult scene for police to attend. The incident was ongoing and had just happened prior to police attending,” he said.

Police attended the scene this morning and said there is no threat to the public in that area. 

All four had sustained gunshot wounds.

Police had no previous reports of issues, domestic or otherwise, relating to the household.

Investigations are at an early stage, but it is understood that it is currently being looked at as an isolated incident.

Maguiresbridge is a rural village, with a resident population of just under 1,000 people, according to the most-recent census. It is approximately 5km from Lisnaskea and roughly 13km from Enniskillen.

Sinn Féin MP for the region, Pat Cullen, said she is “deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic news in Maguiresbridge”. She said her thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and the entire community.

Cullen and local DUP MLA Deborah Erskine have asked that the public refrain from speculating on the incident. 

Erskine said in a statement that the community is “stunned”. 

“My deepest condolences are with the families of those who have been killed as a result of this incident. Their lives have been turned upside down this morning,” she wrote in a Facebook post.

“I know the community will wrap their arms around those in utter turmoil, shock and grief at this time.”

Local UUP MLA Diana Armstrong said the news was “heartbreaking and distressing”.

“The loss of life and the serious injuries reported have shocked the local community. My thoughts are with the families of those affected and with everyone in the community as they come to terms with this tragedy,” she added.

With reporting by Diarmuid Pepper and Niall O’Connor.