Man charged with murder of Tadhg Farrell and Mary Holt in Edenderry house fire
On 6 December 2025, a fire at Castleview Park, Edenderry, Co Offaly, killed Tadhg Farrell, 4, and Mary Holt, 60, and seriously injured Pauline Holt, Tadhg's grandmother, who was in the house at the time. Michael Dunne, 22, with an address in Co Kildare, had previously been accused of arson in connection with the blaze. On 7 October 2026, Dunne was charged at Tullamore District Court with the murder of Farrell and Holt, assault causing serious harm to Pauline Holt, and an amended endangerment charge alleging he broke the front window and intentionally caused the fire. The DPP directed trial by indictment, no bail application was made, and Dunne was remanded in custody. He is due to appear by video-link before a court appearance on 28 October 2026 when a book of evidence will be served.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged7 Oct
2 reports - In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Tadhg Farrell, 4, and Mary Holt, 60, died in a house fire, and Pauline Holt, Tadhg's grandmother, was seriously injured.
- Where
- The fire occurred at Castleview Park, Edenderry, Co Offaly (one source refers to it as Castleview Court).
- When
- The fire occurred on 6 December 2025.
- Cause
- The amended endangerment charge alleges Michael Dunne, 22, broke the front window of the house and intentionally caused a fire that created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to four named males.
- Investigation
- Detective Tom Dunne gave evidence of charging Michael Dunne at Tullamore District Court.
- Charges
- Michael Dunne, 22, with an address in Co Kildare, was charged with the murder of Tadhg Farrell and Mary Holt and with assault causing serious harm to Pauline Holt.
- Dunne had previously been accused of arson at the property, and that charge remains before the court.
- In court
- The DPP directed trial by indictment on the new charges, and Judge Andrew Cody permitted the amendment to the endangerment charge.
- No application for bail was made and Dunne was remanded in custody.
- Dunne is due to appear by video-link before a court appearance on 28 October 2026 when a book of evidence will be served.
- Other details
- Dunne made no reply after caution, and his full address cannot be published by order of the court.
33 statements extracted from the articles
- whatTadhg Farrell and Mary Holt died following the fire at Castleview Park on December 6th, 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- whatTadhg Farrell was 4 years old (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMary Holt was 60 years old (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMichael Dunne is 22 years old (irishmirror.ie)
- whatPauline Holt is Tadhg's grandmother (irishmirror.ie)
- whatPauline Holt was in the house at the time of the fire (irishmirror.ie)
- whereMichael Dunne, 22, with an address in Co Kildare, was charged at Tullamore District Court. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe fire occurred at Castleview Park, Edenderry, Co Offaly (irishmirror.ie)
- whereMichael Dunne has an address in Kildare (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe fire occurred on 6 December 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDetective Tom Dunne gave evidence of charging Dunne on Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDetective Tom Dunne gave evidence of charging Michael Dunne (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeDunne was charged with the murder of Tadhg Farrell (4) and Mary Holt (60) at Castleview Park, Edenderry, on December 6th. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeDunne was also charged with assault causing serious harm to Pauline Holt. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeDunne had previously been accused of arson at Castleview Park, Edenderry, and that charge remains before the court. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAn endangerment charge on the same date remains before the court and has been amended. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe amended charge alleges Dunne broke the front window of the house and intentionally caused a fire that created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to four named males. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMichael Dunne was charged with the murder of Mary Holt and Tadhg Farrell (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeMichael Dunne was charged with assault causing serious harm to Pauline Holt (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeMichael Dunne had previously been accused of arson at Castleview Court (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Andrew Cody permitted the amendment to the endangerment charge. (irishtimes.com)
- courtSergeant Richard Thornton said the DPP had directed trial by indictment on the new charges. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThere was no application for bail and Dunne was remanded in custody. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDunne is due to appear by video-link in advance of a court appearance on 28 October when a book of evidence will be served. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMichael Dunne was charged at Tullamore District Court (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe arson charge remains before the court (irishmirror.ie)
- courtNo application for bail was made (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMichael Dunne was remanded in custody (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMichael Dunne is to appear by video link before a court appearance on 28 October when a book of evidence will be served (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMichael Dunne's full address cannot be published by order of the court (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDunne made no reply after caution. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDunne is in custody and his full address cannot be published by order of the court. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMichael Dunne made no reply after caution (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 7 Oct2026Man charged with murder of Tadhg Farrell and his grand-aunt in Offaly
First report of Michael Dunne being charged with the murders of Tadhg Farrell and Mary Holt and assault causing serious harm to Pauline Holt following the December 2025 house fire in Edenderry. He was remanded in custody with a book of evidence to be served on 28 October 2026.
victim, Tadhg Farrell, 4, male, irish (judged from name)Tadhg Farrellvictim, Mary Holt, 60, female, irish (judged from name)Mary Holtvictim, Pauline Holt, female, irish (judged from name)Pauline Holtaccused, Michael Dunne, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Dunne - 7 Oct2026Man charged with murder of Tadhg Farrell (4) and Mary Holt (60) in Edenderry house fire
Reports the charging at Tullamore District Court, the amended endangerment charge (breaking the front window, intentionally causing a fire, substantial risk to four named males), the DPP directing trial by indictment, and remand in custody with next appearance on 28 October 2026 for service of a book of evidence.
victim, Tadhg Farrell, 4, male, irish (judged from name)Tadhg Farrellvictim, Mary Holt, 60, female, irish (judged from name)Mary Holtvictim, Pauline Holt, female, irish (judged from name)Pauline Holtaccused, Michael Dunne, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Dunne