Sunday 1 November 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. 0582Murder · Co. Mayo · 1 Jul 2013

Man who murdered two boys in Mayo applies for parole

Sanjeev Chada strangled his sons Eoghan, 10, and Ruairí, 5, in an isolated lane in Ballintubber, County Mayo, in July 2013 after staying the night in a car, then placed their bodies in the boot before deliberately crashing into a wall approximately 10 hours later. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2014. The murders came 10 days after he embezzled €56,000 from a local community group, and emails showed he had planned to kill his wife Kathleen as well at least a year and a half earlier. Chada, who lived in County Carlow, is eligible for parole in 2026 and has applied for release. Kathleen Chada appeared before the parole board in April 2026, saying her greatest fear is that he will finish the job if he is released.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Sanjeev Chada strangled his sons Eoghan, 10, and Ruairí, 5, after staying the night in a car, then placed their bodies in the boot before deliberately crashing into a wall approximately 10 hours later.
Where
The murders took place in an isolated lane in Ballintubber, County Mayo.
When
The murders occurred in July 2013, 10 days after the embezzlement was discovered.
Cause
Sanjeev Chada had embezzled €56,000 from a local community group to fund his gambling in the stock market.
Charges
Sanjeev Chada pleaded guilty to the two murders.
In court
Sanjeev Chada was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2014.
Sentence
Sanjeev Chada is eligible for parole in 2026 and has applied for release.
Other details
  • Emails written by Sanjeev Chada showed he had intended to kill his wife Kathleen and the boys at least a year and a half before the murders.
  • Kathleen Chada appeared before the parole board in April 2026 and said her greatest fear is that Sanjeev Chada will kill her if released.
  • Sanjeev Chada lived in County Carlow and was supposedly taking his sons bowling when he drove them to the isolated lane.
19 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatSanjeev Chada was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2014 for killing Eoghan (10) and Ruairí (five) in 2013. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSanjeev Chada murdered his sons Eoghan, 10, and Ruairí, 5, in July 2013 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatSanjeev strangled the boys the following morning after staying the night in the car (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe placed the bodies in the boot before deliberately crashing into a wall approximately 10 hours later (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatSanjeev embezzled €56,000 from a local community group (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatSanjeev had written an email to himself expressing his desire to kill his wife and children (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe was supposedly taking his sons bowling when he drove them to the isolated lane (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe murder took place in an isolated lane in Ballintubber, County Mayo (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereSanjeev lived in County Carlow (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenSanjeev Chada is eligible for parole in 2026. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenIt will be 13 years in July since the sons were murdered. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe murder happened 10 days after the embezzlement was discovered (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenHe had thought about killing all of them at least a year and a half before the murders (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe embezzlement was for his gambling habit of dabbling in the stock market (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeSanjeev Chada pled guilty to the murders. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtSanjeev Chada has applied for parole (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherFrom correspondence, Kathleen Chada found out Sanjeev Chada had planned to kill her as well. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBased on emails he wrote, his intention to take her life was present about a year to a year and a half before the murders. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe average life sentence in Ireland is 21 years (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 18 Jul2026
    Otheririshmirror.ie, follow-up
    'My husband murdered our two little boys – then I read his chilling email'

    Kathleen Chada appeared on Ireland AM to express her fear for her safety if Sanjeev Chada is released on parole, revealing he had written an email to himself expressing his desire to kill his wife and children at least a year and a half before the murders, and that the embezzlement of €56,000 was a trigger but the thought had been in his head for a long time.

    victim, 10, male, irish (judged from name)victim, 5, male, irish (judged from name)convicted, Sanjeev Chada, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Sanjeev Chada
  2. 1 Apr2026
    Otheririshtimes.com, follow-up
    Kathleen Chada fears ex-husband, who murdered their two sons, will kill her if he gets parole

    Reports on Kathleen Chada's appearance before the parole board and her statement about fearing for her life if Sanjeev Chada is released, including details from his emails showing he had planned to kill her as well as the boys.

    victim, 10, male, non-irish (judged from name)victim, 5, male, non-irish (judged from name)convicted, Sanjeev Chada, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Sanjeev Chadavictim, Kathleen Chada, female, non-irish (judged from name)Kathleen Chada