Gardai release CCTV footage in connection with Offaly murder probe
Gardai have issued another appeal for information in connection with the house fire which killed a four-year-old boy and his grandaunt.
Little Tadhg Farrell and 60-year-old Mary Holt died after an accelerant was thrown through the front window of Ms Holt’s home in Castleview Park, Edenderry, Co. Offaly, at around 7.45pm on Saturday. A murder investigation is underway.
The boy’s grandmother is still being treated for serious burn injuries at the hospital.
Tadhg Farrell. Pic: An Garda Síochána
Little Tadhg was staying with his grandaunt to watch the Late Late Toy Show over the weekend before the horror inferno, which claimed both their lives.
On Wednesday, Gardai confirmed that the post-mortem examinations on the little boy and Ms Holt have been completed, the results of which are not being released for operational reasons.
To date, the Garda investigation team has carried out over 150 investigative jobs, carried out over 250 house-to-house enquiries, retrieved over 60 pieces of CCTV and taken over 100 written documents.
Gardai have now released CCTV footage in connection with their investigation, with Chief Superintendent Anthony Lonergan appealing for anybody with information to come forward.
He said: ‘Tadhg should be with his family today. His grandaunt Mary should be working in a local nursing home where she worked for over 40 years helping her community.
‘I want to reassure the community here in Edenderry and throughout Laois/ Offaly Division that I will ensure that An Garda Síochána is here to support you through this traumatic event, but also that An Garda Síochána is determined, and will identify all those responsible for the deaths of Tadhg and Mary and bring them before the courts.’
Mary Holt. Pic: An Garda Síochána
He added: ‘I appeal directly to any person with any information on this violent fatal incident to speak with investigating Gardaí.’
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.
It’s understood that Gardai are investigating if the petrol bomb attack was the result of a prison row between someone connected to the family and other drug gangs.
Pic: Eamonn Farrell/© RollingNews.ie
Security sources said they are investigating if a recent prison row was the catalyst for the attack.
One said: ‘A man who is well-known to the victims in the petrol bomb attack got into a fight with another inmate in the Midlands Prison last week.
‘Gardaí believe that this is what may have led to the attack being ordered. The man suspected of ordering the attack has since been moved to another prison and will be questioned about what happened.’
It comes as the family of little Tadhg have said he will be ‘forever missed.’
On Wednesday, the death notice for little Tadgh was shared on RIP with the post stating that his sudden and tragic passing had left friends and family ‘heartbroken.’
The death notice read: ‘Softly held in the arms of angels, he will be forever missed and remembered by his loving family: mother Shannon, Dad Aaron, grandmothers Karen and Pauline, granddad Richard, sisters Ella Brooke, Heidi Lee and Neveah, great-grandmother Marian, aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives and friends.’
Funeral arrangements for the young boy will be confirmed at a later time.
