Man arrested after three found dead in County Louth

A man in his 30s has been arrested after three people were found dead at a house in County Louth, in the Republic of Ireland.

Gardaí (Irish police) were called to a house near Drumgowna at about 10:00 local time on Monday.

A man and a woman – both in their 50s – and a man in his 20s were found dead at the scene.

Irish broadcaster RTÉ has reported it is believed they were all from the same family and were violently attacked.

Irish Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said police were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident and there was no ongoing threat to the public.

O’Callaghan added that he had “no further information”.

On Monday evening, forensic officers remained at the home, which is located close to the Louth/Monaghan border near the villages of Killanny, Louth village and Tallanstown and is on a rural road.

Gardaí say post-mortem examinations are due to take place at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda on Tuesday.

Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú said the incident had “absolutely stunned the community all over County Louth”.

“The fact that three members of one family seem to have died in dreadful and violent circumstances on a Monday morning in a quiet and rural area of Mid Louth is appalling,” he said.

He urged anyone with information to come forward and asked people not to speculate online or on social media.

Fine Gael TD Paula Butterly described the incident as “absolutely shocking”.

“My thoughts and prayers go out to the whole community and wider family members and friends,” she said.

Fianna Fáil councillor John Sheridan said the family were “very well-known” and there was “a huge degree of shock” in the area.

“It’s a very rural close community,” he said. “Everyone knows everybody… and since 10 o’clock this morning there’s been a huge sense of grief.”