Gardaí treating deaths in Finglas as murder-suicide case

Gardaí are treating the deaths of a father and daughter in Dublin on Saturday night as a case of murder-suicide.

The bodies of the man who was in his 30s and his five year old daughter were discovered in their home on Saturday night.

Post mortems are expected to be carried out later today.

The house in Heathfield Terrace in Finglas where the bodies of the father and daughter were found remains sealed off this morning as the forensic examination of the scene continues.

It is believed the child’s mother made the grim discovery when she came home from work on Saturday night.

The man was found by the stairs, their daughter in a bedroom.

Gardaí and the emergency services were then called to the scene at around 8pm on Saturday night.

The two bodies were removed around midday yesterday for post-mortem examinations which are due to get under way later today.

The results will determine the course of the investigation, but gardaí are treating the case as a murder-suicide.

Detectives believe the father took the life of his daughter before taking his own, and are not looking for anyone else at present.

The family are originally from Eastern Europe and gardaí have been contacting relatives and family members abroad.

Neighbours in the Heathfield estate described them as quiet and say the father worked as a bus driver.

An incident room has been established at Finglas Garda Station and a Senior Investigating Officer and family liaison officer have been appointed.

Gardaí have identified the father and child, but they will not be named until all relatives have been informed.