Ireland Four arrested over Edenderry house fire that killed Tadhg Farrell (4) and Mary Holt (60)
Three men (two in their 20s, one in his 30s) and a teenage boy were arrested in connection with a suspected petrol bomb attack on a house in Edenderry, Co. Offaly, on 6 December 2025, which killed Tadhg Farrell (4) and his great-aunt Mary Holt (60). The four are detained under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007, while investigations continue.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested28 Apr
2 reports - Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThree men were arrested in connection with the arson murders of Tadhg Farrell and Mary Holt (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe suspects are two men in their 20s and one man in his 30s (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTadhg Farrell was four years old and Mary Holt was 60 at the time of their deaths (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTadhg Farrell (4) and Mary Holt (60) died in a suspected petrol bomb attack on a house. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victims' remains were found in the front room of the house. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe attack occurred at a domestic residence in Castleview Park, Edenderry, Co. Offaly (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe fire occurred at a house in Castleview Park, Edenderry, Co. Offaly. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe arrests were made on Tuesday 28 April 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe fire took place on the evening of 6 December 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe fire was deliberately started in the front room of the house. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponA petrol bomb was hurled at the house (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe three men are detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at Garda stations in the midlands (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA man in his 20s was previously arrested in January but released without charge (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe arrests bring to four the total number of people questioned about the deaths (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThree men, two in their 20s and one in his 30s, were arrested as part of the investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA fourth male, a juvenile aged in his teens, was also arrested. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe four are detained at Garda stations in the midlands under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. (irishtimes.com)
- otherTadhg was staying at the house to watch the Late Late Toy Show with his grandaunt (irishmirror.ie)
- otherOne line of inquiry is that the attack was carried out by those involved in the drugs trade (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe boy and the woman who died were related as a young boy and his great-aunt. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 28 Apr2026Four arrested over Edenderry house fire that killed Tadhg Farrell (4) and Mary Holt (60)
Reports the arrest of four suspects (three men and a teenage boy) in connection with the December 2025 petrol bomb attack that killed two people in Edenderry.
victim, Tadhg Farrell, 4, male, irish (judged from name)Tadhg Farrellvictim, Mary Holt, 60, female, irish (judged from name)Mary Holtsuspect, 20s, malesuspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, teens, male - 28 Apr2026Gardai make arrests over arson murders of Tadhg Farrell and great-aunt Mary Holt
First report of arrests; three men detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007; a fourth person (man in 20s) was previously arrested in January and released without charge; Minister for Justice described the attack as 'murderous' and 'designed to kill' with the drugs trade as one line of inquiry.
victim, Tadhg Farrell, 4, male, irish (judged from name)Tadhg Farrellvictim, Mary Holt, 60, femaleMary Holtsuspect, 20s, malesuspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, male