‘Truly shocking and appalling’: Three dead as man arrested after incident in Tallanstown, Co Louth

Gardaí have arrested a man in his 30s in connection with an incident in a rural area of Co Louth in which three people were killed.

The incident took place at a residential property in the Drumgowna area outside Tallanstown.

Gardaí said three people – understood to be two men and a woman from the same family – have died.

The three victims, all adults, were found dead at the scene on Monday morning.

The arrested man has been detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act at a Garda station in the Garda North West Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

He can be held for questioning without charge for up to 24 hours.

Gardaí said investigations are ongoing but they are not looking for anyone else in relation to the killings.

The scene around the property has been sealed off the State Pathologist’s Office has been notified.

The remains of the three victims are still at the property pending a preliminary examination at the scene by a pathologist before their removal for full postmortem examinations.

At this stage, gardaí believe the three victims were violently attacked.

A motive for the killings, and sequence of events related to the murders, was still being determined.

Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan said gardaí believe it was a self-contained incident and there was no ongoing threat to the public.

“I am conscious that it is a developing story and it is a sensitive issue but there is no further information I can put into the public domain at present,” he said in Dublin.

“I think further information will become available in due course.”

He added: “What I can say and what gardaí have said is that they are not looking for anyone else in respect of this criminal act.

“There is no ongoing threat to the public in Co Louth.”

Sinn Féin TD for Louth Ruairí Ó Murchú said that the whole community is “utterly shocked” at the news.

“This is a truly shocking and appalling incident which has absolutely stunned the whole community all over Co Louth,” he said. “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.

“I would appeal for anyone with information to go to the gardaí immediately, and ask that people do not speculate on this incident online or on social media.”

The incident was described as “truly shocking” by local Fianna Fáil councillor John Sheridan.

“It’s obviously a very tough time for the area. It’s a very peaceful, calm area and you don’t expect these things in the local area. It’s an area of great community spirit and it’s truly, truly shocking,” he told RTE Radio’s News at One.