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. 3372Murder · Co. Mayo · 29 Jul 2013

Man who murdered two sons in Mayo applies for parole

Sanjeev Chada, a 52-year-old non-Irish man, strangled his Irish sons Eoghan, 10, and Ruairi, 5, in an isolated lane in Ballintubber, County Mayo, on 29 July 2013, after taking them from their home in County Carlow on the pretext of bowling. He placed their bodies in the boot of his car and deliberately crashed into a wall. He was arrested after a failed suicide attempt, pleaded guilty in 2014, and was sentenced to two mandatory life sentences. He has now applied for parole after serving 12 years in Arbour Hill Prison.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced5 May
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Sanjeev Chada strangled his sons Eoghan, 10, and Ruairi, 5, placed their bodies in the boot of his car, and deliberately crashed into a wall.
Where
The murders took place in an isolated lane in Ballintubber, County Mayo; the boys were taken from their home in County Carlow.
When
The killings occurred on 29 July 2013; the boys were found dead the following day.
Cause
Sanjeev Chada feared his embezzlement of €56,000 from a local community group would be exposed.
Weapon
Ruairi was strangled with a rope.
Investigation
Sanjeev Chada was arrested after a failed attempt to take his own life.
In court
Sanjeev Chada pleaded guilty to the murders at his 2014 hearing.
Sentence
Sanjeev Chada was sentenced to two mandatory life sentences in 2014.
Other details
  • Sanjeev Chada has applied for parole after serving 12 years in Arbour Hill Prison; no decision has been made yet.
  • Kathleen Chada, 51, divorced Sanjeev while he was in prison and published a memoir titled Everything.
47 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatSanjeev Chada strangled his sons Eoghan, 10, and Ruairi, 5, in July 2013. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe placed their bodies in the boot of his car. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatSanjeev wanted his first son aborted. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe took the boys on the pretext of bringing them bowling. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatEoghan sustained a great deal of physical damage, indicating he fought hard. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatSanjeev took Ruairi on his knee to comfort him before strangling him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatKathleen found an email sent 18 months earlier showing Sanjeev had planned to kill her as well. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatSanjeev said he did not kill Kathleen because she would have fought him, so he took the weakest. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatKathleen divorced Sanjeev while he was in prison. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatSanjeev Chada put the boys in the boot of his car and drove around. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatSanjeev Chada told his wife he was taking the boys bowling. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatEoghan was 10 years old and Ruairí was 5 years old at the time of their deaths. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatSanjeev strangled the boys, placed their bodies in the boot, and deliberately crashed into a wall. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatKathleen was giving a statement to a detective when the phone call came. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatTwo sons were killed by their father 13 years ago. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whereThe boys were taken from their home in County Carlow. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereHe drove to County Mayo where he killed them. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereKathleen moved from Co Carlow to an apartment in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereSanjeev Chada drove to Mayo before killing the boys in an isolated area. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe murders occurred in an isolated lane in Ballintubber, County Mayo. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereSanjeev was a stay-at-home dad residing in County Carlow. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereSanjeev now lives in Dublin's Arbour Hill Prison. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe boys were taken to a small lane near Ballintubber Abbey in Mayo. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whenSanjeev Chada murdered the brothers on July 29, 2013. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe boys were found dead the next day. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe murders took place on 29 July 2013. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe murders occurred 10 days after the embezzlement was revealed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe killings took place on 29 July 2013. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • causeSanjeev Chada feared his embezzlement from a local community group would be exposed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeSanjeev had embezzled €56,000 from a local community group to fund his stock market dabbling. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe father told his wife he was taking the children bowling. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • weaponRuairi was strangled with a rope. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • investigationSanjeev Chada was arrested after he failed in an attempt to take his own life. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtSanjeev Chada pleaded guilty before being sentenced. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • sentenceSanjeev Chada pleaded guilty at his 2014 hearing and was given two concurrent life sentences. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceSanjeev Chada was handed two mandatory life sentences in 2014 after pleading guilty to murdering his sons. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceSanjeev Chada received two life sentences. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • sentenceSanjeev Chada is now entitled to apply for parole. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherKathleen appeared on a Virgin Media documentary about domestic violence called Until Death. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherKathleen is 51 years old. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherSanjeev Chada is 52 years old. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherKathleen Chada said she wished Sanjeev was insane instead of evil. (extra.ie)
  • otherSanjeev Chada is in Arbour Hill Prison and has made a failed parole attempt. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherSanjeev Chada can reapply for parole in two years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherHe has applied for parole after serving 12 years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherKathleen wrote a memoir called Everything. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherNo decision on parole has been made yet. (kilkennypeople.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 31 Jul2026
    Sentencedkilkennypeople.ie, its first report
    Mother of murdered boys speaks out on parole process and deaths - Kilkenny Live

    Feature on the victims' mother and her views on the convicted father's parole eligibility, with additional details of the 2013 killings that were not made public at sentencing.

    victim, Eoghan, 10, male, non-irish (judged from name)Eoghanvictim, Ruairi, 5, male, non-irish (judged from name)Ruairiconvicted, Sanjeev Chada, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Sanjeev Chada
  2. 13 Apr2026
    Otheririshmirror.ie, follow-up
    'My husband called after killing our sons – his words are imprinted on my mind'

    Kathleen Chada's Virgin Media News interview detailing the phone call, the embezzlement that preceded the murders, a pre-murder email expressing his desire to kill his family, and her fears about his parole application after 12 years.

    victim, 10, male, irish (judged from name)victim, Ruairí Chada, 5, male, irish (judged from name)Ruairí Chadaconvicted, Sanjeev Chada, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Sanjeev Chadavictim, Kathleen Chada, female, irish (judged from name)Kathleen Chada
  3. 5 May2023
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Mum whose sons were killed by their dad tells of aftermath of tragedy

    Kathleen Chada has published a memoir, Everything, about her life after the murders. The article says Sanjeev Chada is in Arbour Hill Prison, has made a failed parole attempt and can reapply in two years. It also says he drove to Mayo before the killings and placed the boys in his car boot.

    victim, 10, male, irish (judged from name)victim, Ruairi Chada, 5, male, irish (judged from name)Ruairi Chadaconvicted, Sanjeev Chada, male, namedSanjeev Chada
  4. 23 Jan2023
    Otherextra.ie, its first report
    Kathleen Chada: 'I Wish Sanjeev Was Insane Instead Of Evil'

    Personal statement from Kathleen Chada about her husband Sanjeev Chada.

    victim, Kathleen Chada, non-irish (judged from name)Kathleen Chadaconvicted, non-irish (judged from name)
  5. 18 Dec2022
    Otheririshmirror.ie, first report
    Irish mum of sons murdered by killer dad recalls life with monster husband

    Feature interview with the victims' mother ahead of a Virgin Media documentary; provides personal account of the relationship, the day of the murders, and a previously unknown email showing Sanjeev planned to kill Kathleen too.

    victim, Kathleen Chada, 51, female, Irish, irishKathleen Chadavictim, Eoghan, 10, male, irish (judged from name)Eoghanvictim, Ruairi, 5, male, irish (judged from name)Ruairiconvicted, Sanjeev Chada, 52, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Sanjeev Chada