Fire attack victims should be looking forward to Christmas, say gardaí

Tue, 23 Dec, 2025 - 13:55

By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association

Fire victims Tadhg Farrell and and Mary Holt “should be looking forward to and preparing to celebrate Christmas with their loved ones”, gardaí have said, as they made a fresh appeal for information.

The four-year-old was visiting his grandmother and grand-aunt, Ms Holt, in the Castleview Park area of Edenderry, Co Offaly, when the home was attacked shortly before 7.45pm on December 6th.

Tadgh and Ms Holt, 60, were discovered dead in the front room of the house where the fire had been deliberately started, gardaí said.

Fatal fire in Edenderry — Mary Holt, 60, died in the fire along with Tadhg Farrell, aged four, in Edenderry, Co Offaly (Handout/PA)

Tadgh’s grandmother, who has not been named, remains in hospital with serious burn injuries.

On Tuesday Chief Superintendent Anthony Lonergan issued a statement saying: “An Garda Síochána is determined, and will identify all those responsible for the deaths of Tadhg and Mary and bring them before the courts.

“As Christmas approaches I appeal directly to any person with any information on this violent, fatal incident to speak with investigating Gardaí.”