Edenderry firebomb murders: Gardai raid homes linked to teen, 15, and criminal as gang hunt intensifies
Gardai investigating the double murder of a child and his grandaunt have raided homes linked to a 15 year old teenager and a well known criminal.This paper has learned that officers carried out searches of properties connected to a well known local criminal in the Kildare area - as they now begin to close the net on the thugs they believe ordered and carried out the heinous attack in Edenderry, Co Offaly last weekend.Sources say gardai have identified several individuals, including this juvenile, who they believe played a role in the attack which caused the deaths of tragic Tadhg (4) and his grandaunt Mary Holt (60) at a house in Castleview Park in Edenderry last Saturday evening.The property connected to the criminal was searched on this Friday - as officers investigate whether he ordered young thugs to set the house on fire - after an associate of his was assaulted in prison last week. Sources also confirmed that a property connected to a 15 year old teenager was searched as officers probe whether he was one of the two youths who carried out the attack last Saturday night.The local criminal has a history in relation to armed burglary and false imprisonment, and is well known to gardai. He is suspected of speaking to a prisoner who was attacked behind bars by another prisoner last Friday night - sparking a plan to launch a revenge attack.Gardai suspect that the scorned prisoner contacted his criminal associate to plot the firebomb attack after the other lag, who is known to the deceased, attacked him in the Midlands Prison. The incident saw investigating gardai notified - and the assaulted prisoner was moved to the country’s maximum security prison next door - Portlaoise Prison.A wider drugs dispute in the area is something gardai suspect may also have led to the physical row taking place behind bars, but sources have stressed that although there is progress, the investigation is still in its infancy.This Friday gardai also moved to arrest four men in the Midlands Prison in connection with the assault incident. Sources say that while none of the men are the believed main instigator of the attack, they are suspected of being involved in facilitating the assault.The main instigator remains in the Midlands Prison, while the lag he attacked is being isolated in Portlaoise. Gardai had been searching for a possible phone that he could have used to contact the local criminal on the outside - and order the attack that caused the deaths of the innocent nursing home worker and little Tadhg.In an update on Friday morning gardai said they arrested four men aged in their 20s and 30s in connection with the assault. “This morning 12th December 2025, investigating Gardaí from the Serious Crime Unit, Laois/Offaly Garda Division have arrested 4 males (aged in their 20s and 30s) at the Midlands Prison, Portlaoise. All four males are being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Garda Stations in the Garda Eastern Region,” gardai said.The arrests occurred just ahead of young Tadhg’s funeral, which took place in front of hundreds of mourners. Earlier in the week gardai took the unusual step of releasing CCTV footage of the moment two young thugs smashed up windows of the home and hurled the firebomb into the front room window of the home.Speaking from the scene Chief Superintendent Anthony Lonergan, Laois/ Offaly Garda Division said: "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. "I appeal directly to any person with any information on this violent fatal incident to speak with investigating Gardaí.”In an update gardai said they continue to investigate all the circumstances of a fatal house fire that occurred at a domestic residence in Castleview Park, Edenderry, Co. Offaly on the evening of Saturday 6th December, 2025.“While this was a reckless, callous and murderous attack on a family home An Garda Síochána continues to keep an open mind as to the reasons and motives for this attack,” they stated.“On Saturday 6th December 2025 4-year-old Tadhg Farrell was visiting his grandmother and his grand-aunt Mary Holt at Castleview Park, Edenderry, Co. Offaly. On Saturday 6th December 2025 the Christmas Tractor Run took place in Edenderry at 6pm, attended by over 250 tractors raising money for local charitable causes. Shortly before 7.45pm this family home at Castleview Park was attacked. The remains of Tadhg and his grandaunt Mary were discovered in the front room of the house where the fire was deliberately started,” gardai added.Tadhg’s grandmother continues to receive hospital treatment for serious burn injuries, they said.“The Garda investigation into the murder of Tadhg Farrell and Mary Holt continues to be led by the Serious Crime Unit Laois/ Offaly Garda Division, supported by all necessary resources from Laois/ Offaly Garda Division, the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI), the Garda Síochána Analysis Service and other National Units.Post-mortem examinations on the remains of Tadhg Farrell and Mary Holt have been completed, gardai added. The results of the post-mortem examinations are not being released for operational reasons. The spokesperson continued: “An Garda Síochána through family liaison officers continue to liaise with and support the families of Tadhg and Mary at this time as they prepare for family funerals.“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. An Garda Síochána acknowledges the support shown by the local community in Edenderry, and wider area, to the families and to An Garda Síochána.“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.”For more of the latest breaking news from the Irish Mirror check out our homepage by clicking here
