Police release CCTV footage of arson attack on house

Gardaí (Irish police) have released CCTV footage of an arson attack on a house fire in County Offaly in the Republic of Ireland in which a woman and young boy were killed.

Mary Holt, aged 60, was the great-aunt of Tadhg Farrell, aged four; and they both died in the fire at a house in Castleview Park, Edenderry, on Saturday.

Another woman, Tadhg’s grandmother, continues to receive hospital treatment for serious burn injuries, police have said.

Gardaí launched a murder investigation and described it as a “reckless, callous and murderous attack on a family home”.

Police say they continue to “keep an open mind as to the reasons and motives for this attack”.

“Tadhg should be with his family today,” Ch Supt Anthony Lonergan said.

“His grandaunt Mary should be working in a local nursing home where she worked for over 40 years helping her community.”

The remains of Tadhg and Mary were discovered in the front room of the house where the fire was deliberately started.

Post-mortem examinations on their remains have been completed but the results are not being released for operational reasons.

Ch Supt Lonergan said police are “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.”

A vigil took place in Edenderry on Wednesday evening.

Irish broadcaster RTÉ reported that local people walked around the running track at Derry Rovers AFC four times, once for each year of Tadgh’s life.

The vigil was by organised by Derry Rovers who said the murders “shook the town of Edenderry to its core”.