Mum, dad, and son killed in suspected stabbing tragedy in Louth named

A community in Co Louth has been left reeling following the deaths of three family members in what authorities have described as a ‘violent incident’ at their home.

The victims have been named locally as Mark and Louise O’Connor, in their 50s, and their son Evan, who was in his 20s and had special needs. All three sustained fatal injuries during the suspected stabbing incident that happened in their country stone cottage in a rural area between the three small Co Louth villages of Stonestown, Louth Village, and Tallanstown.

A male known to them is suspected of killing them by fatally stabbing them. Emergency services responded to the scene on Monday morning but all three were pronounced dead.

It’s understood two bodies were discovered inside the property while a third body was discovered on the driveway. It is also understood all three sustained fatal stab wounds.

Just before 6pm on Monday, a private ambulance arrived at the scene and the three deceaseds’ remains were removed. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the north east of Leinster, with neighbours and local representatives expressing devastation at the loss of the well-known family, who are understood to have lived in the cottage for the past 20 years.

Gardaí have launched a full investigation, though details surrounding the circumstances remain limited. A man in his 30s, who is known to the family, was arrested around 6km from the home of the deceased couple and their son.

He remains in garda custody this evening at a garda station in the northwest region. He is being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act and can be held for up to 24 hours.

It is understood medical assistance is being sought for him. Gardaí are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident at present and there is no threat to the public.

The bodies of the three deceased were removed from the scene on Monday afternoon and a large garda presence was in place at the scene. Members of the Garda Technical Bureau were also in attendance and a blue tent was erected in the driveway of the house which remained sealed off.

Searches were carried out both inside and around the outside of the property as forensics looked for anything of evidential value. Local officials have urged the public to allow space for the grieving community and to support those affected by the heartbreaking loss.

Local councillor Rachel Kerley spoke of the shock around the community and also called on people not to be speculating in group chats and on social media. “It was a complete shock this morning, people were not expecting this tragedy at all. I think we need to be vigilant as we are a small rural community, so there are a lot of people who are affected by this tragedy and our thoughts are with the family, friends and wider community,” Rachel Kerley said.

“There is complete devastation around. As word started to filter around, it was pure devastation. It’s such a tragedy. And it does point to social media not to be sharing names and speculating in group chats as unfortunately there is false information out there and there is a family involved with relatives.

“It’s something we have to be conscious of with the growth of social media and how fast-paced it is that there are sometimes family and friends that may not have been contacted directly yet and with names being spread in group chats, it’s not the nicest way to find out. And along with that sometimes the information isn’t even correct.”

Local councillor John Sheridan has spoken of his shock and the local community’s devastation at the triple murder. “The family is a well known family in the area and have been involved in sports and the local community,” Cllr Sheridan told us.

“They are a well-liked family. I would have known them through the local community and sporting events. The property is between three small villages in Co Louth – Stonestown, Louth Village and Tallanstown so all three communities are very distressed and very shocked. Word started to filter through the villages around 10am this morning when emergency services came from Dundalk.

“This is the first time something shocking like this has happened in this quiet and peaceful area. There is a huge degree of shock and sadness in the area.”

A devastated neighbour, who lives close to the family home of the deceased, said he only heard of the shocking tragedy when another neighbour rang him to see why there was an ambulance along the road. The neighbour, who does not want to be identified, said: “Then I looked out the window around 9.30am and saw the ambulance.”

“Everyone is numb and in shock. They were a lovely couple.” Other neighbours also spoke of the shock of the triple tragedy. “We are just all devastated,” the neighbour said.

“The dad was such a lovely fella. You’d see him running on the roads every morning. He even completed the Boston Marathon earlier this year. The mother was also a lovely woman, she worked as a nurse and the son who was also killed was a lovely lad. He had special needs.

“It’s just so shocking and sad. They had three sons.” In a statement on Monday, An Garda Siochana said: “Gardaí continue to investigate all the circumstances of a fatal incident at a residential property in Drumgowna, Tallanstown, Co Louth, this morning, Monday 29th September 2025.

“Gardaí responded to a call to attend the residential property shortly before 10am this morning, 29th September 2025. Three people – a male and a female in their 50s and a male in his 20s were found deceased at the scene. A male, aged in his 30s, has been arrested and is currently detained at a station in the Garda North Western Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.”

The armed response unit was at the scene, along with several other Garda units and emergency services, after they were dispatched on Monday morning. The incident happened in Mills of Louth, around two kilometres from the small village of Tallanstown.

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said: “An Garda Siochana have passed on information which I have received through the office and I’m conscious it’s a developing story and a sensitive issue but there’s no further information I can put into the public domain at present. Further information will become available in due course. What I can say and what the gardaí have said is that they are not looking for anyone else in respect of this criminal act and there’s no unknown threat to the public and Co Louth.”

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