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. 9827Murder · Co. Offaly · 6 Dec 2025

Three men arrested over fatal Edenderry house fire, Offaly

A fire at a house in Castleview Park, Edenderry, County Offaly, on the evening of Saturday 6 December 2025 killed Mary Holt, aged 60, and four-year-old Tadgh Farrell, and Pauline Holt was hospitalised. Gardaí said the fire was caused by a petrol bomb attack on the house. On Tuesday 28 April 2026, gardaí arrested three men, two in their 20s and one in his 30s, and detained them at Garda stations in the midlands under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. The latest report, published on 1 May 2026, says the three men are being detained and that gardaí say investigations are ongoing, with no charges or court appearances reported.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested1 May
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The fire killed Mary Holt, aged 60, and four-year-old Tadgh Farrell.
  • Pauline Holt, the sister of Mary Holt, was hospitalised as a result of the fire.
Other details
Mary Holt was the grand aunt of Tadgh Farrell.
Where
The fire was at a domestic residence in Castleview Park, Edenderry, County Offaly.
When
The fire occurred on the evening of Saturday 6 December 2025.
Cause
Gardaí said the fire was caused by a petrol bomb attack on the house.
Weapon
The petrol bomb was used to attack the house.
Investigation
  • On Tuesday 28 April 2026, gardaí arrested three men, two in their 20s and one in his 30s.
  • The three men were detained at Garda stations in the midlands under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007.
  • Gardaí said investigations into all the circumstances of the fire are ongoing.
Charges
No charges against the three arrested men are reported in the articles.
In court
No court appearances by the three arrested men are reported in the articles.
8 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe fire killed Mary Holt (60) and four-year-old Tadgh Farrell. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe fire was at a domestic residence in Castleview Park, Edenderry, County Offaly. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe fire occurred on the evening of Saturday 6 December 2025. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeThe fire was caused by a petrol bomb attack on the house. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí arrested three men, two in their 20s and one in his 30s, on Tuesday 28 April 2026. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe three men were detained at Garda stations in the midlands under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí said investigations are ongoing. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherMary Holt was Tadgh Farrell's grand aunt, and her sister Pauline Holt was hospitalised as a result of the fire. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 May2026
    Arrestedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Men arrested and detained in Offaly double murder probe

    First report in the list of this fire. Gives the Garda statement on the arrests of three men on 28 April 2026, the detention under Section 50, the victims, and the cause of the fire as a petrol bomb attack.

    victim, Mary Holt, 60, female, irish (judged from name)Mary Holtvictim, Tadgh Farrell, 4, male, irish (judged from name)Tadgh Farrellvictim, Pauline Holt, female, irish (judged from name)Pauline Holtsuspect, 20s, malesuspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, male