Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 9889Murder · Co. Offaly · 6 Dec 2025

Fourth arrest in Edenderry firebomb double murder investigation, Offaly

Tadhg Farrell, a four-year-old boy, and Mary Holt, a 60-year-old woman, died in a firebomb attack on a house at Castleview Park, Edenderry, Co Offaly, on the evening of Saturday 6 December 2025, and a woman in her 50s was seriously injured in the blaze. On 28 April 2026 gardaí arrested three men, two in their 20s and one in his 30s, in connection with the murders, and the three men were detained at Garda stations in the midlands under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007. Later that day a male youth was arrested, making four arrests in total, and no charges have been reported while gardaí say the investigation is ongoing.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested28 Apr
    5 reports
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Gardaí are investigating the murders of Tadhg Farrell, a four-year-old boy, and Mary Holt, a 60-year-old woman.
Where
The victims died in a house at Castleview Park, Edenderry, Co Offaly.
When
The attack happened on the evening of Saturday 6 December 2025.
Cause
The deaths followed a firebomb attack on the house.
Weapon
A firebomb was used in the attack on the house.
Other details
A woman in her 50s was seriously injured in the blaze.
Investigation
  • On Tuesday 28 April 2026 gardaí arrested three men, two in their 20s and one in his 30s, in connection with the investigation.
  • The three men were detained at Garda stations in the midlands under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007.
  • On the evening of 28 April 2026 a male youth was also arrested, making four arrests in total.
  • Gardaí said the investigation is ongoing.
Charges
No charges are reported in the articles.
33 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí are investigating the murders of a four-year-old boy and a woman in County Offaly. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatA fire claimed the life of a 4-year-old and his great-aunt. (extra.ie)
  • whatGardaí are investigating the murders of a four-year-old boy and a 60-year-old woman. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatMary Holt and a four-year-old boy died in a firebomb attack on a house in Edenderry. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe victims died in a house at Castleview Park, Edenderry. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe deaths occurred at a house at Castleview Park, Edenderry. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe firebomb attack took place at a house at Castleview Park, Edenderry. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe murders took place in Edenderry, Co Offaly. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe attack happened on the evening of Saturday, 6 December 2025. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe attack took place on the evening of Saturday 6 December 2025. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe deaths occurred on the evening of Saturday, 6 December 2025. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeThe deaths followed a firebomb attack on the house. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeThe victims died in a firebomb attack. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeThe deaths resulted from a firebomb attack. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeMary Holt and Tadhg Farrell died in a firebomb attack on a house. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • weaponA firebomb was used in the attack on the house. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • weaponThe attack was a firebomb attack. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationA number of people were arrested for questioning. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThose arrested are being detained for questioning at Garda stations across the midlands. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThree people have been arrested in connection with the fire. (extra.ie)
  • investigationGardaí arrested three men on Tuesday 28 April 2026, two in their 20s and one in his 30s. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe three men are detained at Garda stations in the midlands under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí arrested three men, two in their 20s and one in his 30s, on 28 April 2026. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe three men were detained at Garda stations in the midlands under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationA fourth person has also been arrested as part of the investigation. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationA male youth was arrested on the evening of 28 April 2026 in connection with the investigation. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí said investigations are ongoing. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí arrested three men, two in their 20s and one in his 30s, on Tuesday 28 April 2026. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationA fourth person was also reported to have been arrested. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationA male youth was arrested in connection with the investigation. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí said the investigations are ongoing. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherA woman in her 50s was also seriously injured in the blaze. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherA woman in her 50s was seriously injured in the blaze. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 29 Apr2026
    Arrestedoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    UPDATE: Gardaí make fourth arrest in connection with Offaly double murder

    Reports a fourth arrest, of a male youth, and gives details of the three men arrested on 28 April 2026 and where they are detained.

    victim, Mary Holt, 60, female, irish (judged from name)Mary Holtvictim, Tadhg Farrell, 4, male, irish (judged from name)Tadhg Farrellvictim, 50s, femalesuspect, 20s, malesuspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, male
  2. 28 Apr2026
    Arrestedleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    BREAKING: Gardaí make fourth arrest in connection with Offaly double murder

    Reports a fourth arrest, a male youth, on 28 April 2026, in addition to the three men arrested earlier that day. Identifies the victims and the firebomb attack at Castleview Park, Edenderry.

    victim, Mary Holt, 60, female, irish (judged from name)Mary Holtvictim, Tadhg Farrell, 4, male, irish (judged from name)Tadhg Farrellvictim, 50s, femalesuspect, 20s, malesuspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, youth, male
  3. 28 Apr2026
    Arrestedleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    UPDATE: Arrests over murder of boy and woman in Co Offaly

    Reports that three men were arrested on 28 April 2026 in the murder investigation, two in their 20s and one in his 30s, and that they are detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007.

    victim, Tadhg Farrell, 4, male, irish (judged from name)Tadhg Farrellvictim, Mary Holt, 60, irish (judged from name)Mary Holtvictim, 50s, femalesuspect, 20s, malesuspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, male
  4. 28 Apr2026
    Arrestedextra.ie, follow-up
    Three arrested in connection with fire that claimed life of 4-year-old and his great-aunt

    The article body is empty template code. Only the headline states the facts, and it gives no location, date or cause. The Republic of Ireland setting is assumed from the outlet, not stated in the article.

    victim, 4, malevictimsuspectsuspectsuspect
  5. 28 Apr2026
    Arrestedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    BREAKING: Arrests over murder of boy and woman in Co Offaly

    Reports that a number of people were arrested for questioning, detained at garda stations across the midlands. No charges are mentioned.

    victim, Tadhg Farrell, 4, male, irish (judged from name)Tadhg Farrellvictim, Mary Holt, 60, female, irish (judged from name)Mary Holtvictim, 50s, female