Man (30s) arrested after three people killed in Co Louth incident

Three adults, a man and a woman in their 50s and a man in his 20s, have died after a serious incident at a residential property in Co Louth on Monday morning.

Gardaí said they were alerted to the incident in Drumgowna, Tallanstown, this morning and found the three victims at the scene.

A man in his 30s has been arrested and is detained at a station in the Garda North West region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

The scene is currently subject of an ongoing forensic examination by the Garda National Technical Bureau, gardaí said in a statement on Monday evening.

The remains of the three victims have been removed from the scene to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, where post-mortem examinations will be conducted on Tuesday.

Gardaí believe the three victims were violently attacked, The Irish Times said, and a motive for the killings, alongside the sequence of events related to the murders, was still being determined.

They added, however, that they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan told Newstalk that there is no ongoing threat to the public.

"I’m conscious it’s a developing story and it’s a sensitive issue, but there’s no further information I can put into the public domain at present, but what I can say and I think what the gardaí have said is that they’re not looking for anyone else in respect of this criminal act and that there’s no ongoing threat to the public in Co Louth, I suppose, is an important message to get out there," he said.

Sinn Féin Louth councillor Pearse McGeough said on social media that there was “sad news coming out of Tallanstown this morning”.

He added, “I would ask people not to speculate until we know the facts.

“Our thoughts are with the friends, family and the community.”

The garda investigation is being conducted from an incident room at Ardee Garda Station, and a senior investigating officer has been appointed.

A family liaison officer has also been appointed to support and keep the family of the deceased informed.

Gardaí have appealed to anyone with any information on the incident to contact the garda investigation team by calling Drogheda Garda Station at 041 987 4200, the Garda Confidential Phone Number on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.

Investigations are ongoing, and gardaí said no further information is available at this time.