Wednesday 28 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. 0324Burglary, theft · Co. Dublin

Two men charged over burglaries in Dublin East under Operation Thor

In the early hours of 4 September 2022, Andy Cash, 30, a man, stabbed his three younger siblings, Irish twins Christy and Chelsea Cawley, both 8, and their sister Lisa Cash, 18, at their family home on Rossfield Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin. In May 2024, Cash pleaded guilty to all three murder charges and was sentenced to three life sentences. On 7 September 2026, a man and a woman, both in their 20s, were arrested in Dublin in connection with Operation Thor, an investigation into a criminal group smuggling drugs and contraband into Irish prisons. Searches at properties in Clondalkin, Ballyfermot, Coolock and Tallaght and in cells at Mountjoy Prison yielded miniature phones, a drone, controlled drugs, €22,000 in cash and other items. The two arrested are detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 and can be held for up to seven days.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested8 Sep
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced8 Sep
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A man and a woman, both in their 20s, were arrested in connection with Operation Thor, an investigation into a criminal group smuggling drugs and contraband into Irish prisons.
  • Andy Cash, 30, stabbed his three younger siblings, twins Christy and Chelsea Cawley, both 8, and Lisa Cash, 18, at their family home.
  • Lisa sustained 71 slash and stab wounds, Chelsea was stabbed 65 times, and Christy sustained 107 sharp force injuries.
  • Miniature phones wrapped in insulation tape, a drone, controlled drugs including €17,000 cannabis, €5,000 cocaine and €3,000 tablets, €22,000 in cash, a Rolex watch, mobile phones, financial documents, improvised weapons and drug paraphernalia were seized.
Where
  • The murders took place at the family home on Rossfield Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin.
  • Searches were carried out at properties in Clondalkin, Ballyfermot, Coolock and Tallaght and in a number of cells at Mountjoy Prison.
When
The attack occurred in the early hours of 4 September 2022.
Investigation
The two arrested are detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 and can be held for up to seven days.
In court
In May 2024, Cash pleaded guilty to all three murder charges.
Sentence
Andy Cash was sentenced to three life sentences for the murder of his three younger siblings.
Other details
  • Cash currently resides within Portlaoise Prison in County Laois.
  • The family placed identical floral bouquets and a yellow ribbon bearing the number four at the victims' gravesides to mark the four-year anniversary.
28 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man and a woman, both in their 20s, were arrested in relation to the investigation (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatMiniature phones wrapped in insulation tape ready to be sent by drone to the prisons were seized (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatControlled drugs including €17,000 cannabis, €5,000 cocaine and €3,000 tablets were seized (dublinlive.ie)
  • what€22,000 in cash, a drone, a Rolex watch, mobile phones, financial documents, improvised weapons and drug paraphernalia were seized (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatCash had been attending a family gathering before hailing a taxi to the property. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe twins were asleep and Lisa was watching Netflix in a separate room when Cash entered. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatLisa told Cash she had no money and that he shouldn't have been there before he stabbed her. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatLisa sustained 71 slash and stab wounds to her face, neck, chest and limbs. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatChelsea was stabbed 65 times. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe pair had been knifed a combined total of 136 times. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCash fled the house and instructed the taxi driver to dial 999 before retreating back inside. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCash hurled a television set from the first floor window as officers drew closer. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCash suspended his brother Christy from the window before releasing him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatChristy had sustained 107 sharp force injuries. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereSearches were carried out at properties in Clondalkin, Ballyfermot, Coolock and Tallaght (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereSearches were carried out in a number of cells in Mountjoy Prison (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe murders took place at the family home on Rossfield Avenue, Tallaght. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe attack occurred in the early hours of 4 September 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation concerns a criminal group smuggling drugs and contraband into Irish prisons (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThe two arrested are detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThey can be held for up to seven days (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtIn May 2024, Cash, aged 30, pleaded guilty to all three murder charges. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtCash stated through his defence barrister that he was sorry for his actions and sorry to the people he has hurt. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtA victim impact statement was compiled by the victims' mother Margaret McDonagh. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceAndy Cash was sentenced to three life sentences for the murder of his three younger siblings. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceCash received three life sentences. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherCash currently resides within Portlaoise Prison in County Laois. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe family placed identical floral bouquets and a yellow ribbon bearing the number four at the victims' gravesides to mark the four-year anniversary. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 Sep2026
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Teen stabbed 71 times after watching Netflix before brother targeted twins

    Four-year anniversary piece revisiting the crime, the May 2024 guilty plea, the sentencing to three life sentences, and a victim impact statement from the victims' mother Margaret McDonagh.

    convicted, Andy Cash, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Andy Cashvictim, 8, male, irish (judged from name)victim, Chelsea Cawley, 8, female, irish (judged from name)Chelsea Cawleyvictim, Lisa Cash, 18, female, irish (judged from name)Lisa Cash
  2. 8 Sep2026
    Arresteddublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Gardaí arrest two people over investigation into prison smuggling

    Reports the arrest of two people and details of property and prison searches, including seizure of miniature phones, a drone, controlled drugs, cash and other items in the prison smuggling investigation.

    suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 20s, female