Gardaí believe foul play unlikely in deaths of Bray couple
The remains of Bridget "Biddy" O'Brien (45) and Jamie McGinn (38) were found at their shared home in the Cois Cairn estate, Old Connaught Avenue, Bray, Co Wicklow, at about 8am on Wednesday 22 October 2026. McGinn's body was discovered in the garden with wounds gardaí believe were self-inflicted, while the precise cause of O'Brien's death awaits toxicology results. Gardaí believe foul play of any kind is very unlikely and are treating the deaths as a tragedy. The couple had lost their two children, Jordan (4) and Holly (3), in a 2017 fire at a domestic violence facility in Clondalkin, Dublin, and had struggled with trauma and drug use in the years since. No criminal file is expected unless unusual results emerge from the pending toxicology tests, which may take several weeks.
- Reported23 Oct
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The remains of Bridget "Biddy" O'Brien (45) and Jamie McGinn (38) were found at their shared home in Bray, Co Wicklow.
- McGinn suffered wounds that gardaí believe were self-inflicted, and the precise cause of O'Brien's death has not been fully determined.
- Gardaí believe foul play of any kind is very unlikely and are treating the deaths as a tragedy.
- Where
- McGinn's remains were discovered in the garden of the property in the Cois Cairn estate on Old Connaught Avenue.
- When
- Their remains were found at about 8am on Wednesday 22 October 2026.
- Investigation
- The house has been sealed off with the Garda Technical Bureau carrying out a full examination, and toxicology results may take several weeks.
- In court
- A criminal file would not be prepared for the DPP unless something unusual emerged from the toxicology tests.
- Other details
- The couple lost their two children, Jordan (4) and Holly (3), in a 2017 fire at a facility for women moving on from domestic violence in Clondalkin, Dublin.
- O'Brien missed the funerals of her two children due to her injuries and only learned they had died about six weeks after the incident.
- The couple had struggled in the years since the fire and turned to drugs due to their trauma, and during O'Brien's long hospital stay McGinn maintained a vigil at her bedside.
14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGardaí believe foul play of any kind is very unlikely (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcGinn suffered wounds that gardaí believe were self-inflicted (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe couple lost their two children, Jordan (4) and Holly (3), in a fire in Clondlakin, Dublin almost 10 years ago (irishtimes.com)
- whatO'Brien missed the funerals of her two children due to her injuries (irishtimes.com)
- whatO'Brien only learned Holly and Jordan had died about six weeks after the incident (irishtimes.com)
- whereMcGinn's remains were discovered in the garden of the property in the Cois Cairn estate on Old Connaught Avenue (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe 2017 blaze broke out at a facility for women moving on from domestic violence (irishtimes.com)
- whenTheir remains were found at about 8am on Wednesday (irishtimes.com)
- investigationIt may be several weeks before the full set of toxicology results is available (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí are treating the deaths as a tragedy (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe house has remained sealed off with the Garda Technical Bureau carrying out a full examination (irishtimes.com)
- courtA criminal file would not be prepared for the DPP unless something unusual emerged from toxicology tests (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe couple had struggled in the years since and turned to drugs due to their trauma (irishtimes.com)
- otherDuring her long stay in hospital, McGinn maintained a vigil at her bedside (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 23 Oct2026Gardaí believe foul play very unlikely to be a factor in deaths of Bray couple
Gardaí treat the deaths as a tragedy; toxicology results pending; no criminal file expected unless unusual results emerge; couple lost two children in the 2017 Clondalkin fire.
victim, 45, female, irish (judged from name)victim, Jamie McGinn, 38, male, irish (judged from name)Jamie McGinnvictim, Jordan, 4, male, irish (judged from name)Jordanvictim, Holly, 3, female, irish (judged from name)Hollyvictim, 27, female, irish (judged from name)victim, Hannah-Paris, 2, female, irish (judged from name)Hannah-Parisvictim, AJ, male, irish (judged from name)AJ