Father returns to Dublin home where he found his three children dead

This is the moment a distraught father returned to the Dublin home where he found the bodies of his three children last week.

Andrew McGinley teared up as he looked at floral tributes to nine-year-old Conor, seven-year-old Darragh and Carla, aged three, outside the semi-detached home in Newcastle, south Dublin, on Monday.

Mr McGinley was last seen at the property on Friday evening when he discovered his distraught wife – named locally as Deirdre Morley – outside being treated by paramedics, and the bodies of the three children inside.

Police investigating the deaths are thought to be probing whether the youngsters were sedated using injections before dying of suffocation or lethal overdose. 

Andrew McGinley, a father who returned to his north Dublin home on Friday last week to find the bodies of his three children inside, returned to the property on Monday

Mr McGinley appeared emotional as he looked at floral tributes to nine-year-old Conor, seven-year-old Darragh and Carla, aged three, outside the semi-detached home

Mr McGinley appeared emotional as he looked at floral tributes to nine-year-old Conor, seven-year-old Darragh and Carla, aged three, outside the semi-detached home

Mr McGinley is thought to have returned home to find distraught wife - named locally as Deirdre Morley - outside, with the body of one child downstairs and another two upstairs (pictured, Mr McGinley with Conor, left, Darragh, right, and Carla)

Mr McGinley is thought to have returned home to find distraught wife – named locally as Deirdre Morley – outside, with the body of one child downstairs and another two upstairs (pictured, Mr McGinley with Conor, left, Darragh, right, and Carla)

Mrs Morley worked as a nurse at a hospital in Dublin, according to the Irish Independent.

Post-mortem examinations of the trio were completed on Sunday, but police are not releasing interim results for ‘operational reasons’.

Investigators said at the time that toxicology reports were still being prepared.

Mr McGinley is also understood to have attended Mass at his local church on Sunday, where prayers were offered

Mr McGinley is also understood to have attended Mass at his local church on Sunday, where prayers were offered

A woman, thought to be the mother, continues to receive medical treatment at Tallaght University Hospital.

It is understood police are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident. No arrests have been made.

Police believe the children were killed some time between Friday afternoon and 7pm.

It is thought the children had been at school on Friday but that Conor was collected early, around lunchtime.

A woman – believed to be the mother – was found ‘wandering the streets’ in a ‘disoriented state’ shortly before the bodies were found. 

A taxi driver stopped and took her home around 7pm. 

The taxi driver called an ambulance out of concern around the same time Mr McGinley arrived and went inside the house, Extra.ie reports. 

It is thought he discovered the body of one of the children downstairs and the other two upstairs. 

There was no sign of a break-in at the house, sources said.

Security insiders stressed last night that the investigation into the tragic events was at a very ‘early stage’.

The estate where the young family lived, Parson’s Court, is made up of both houses and apartments. 

Police investigating the deaths completed post-mortem examinations on Sunday, but have not released the results and say they are still waiting for toxicology tests

Police investigating the deaths completed post-mortem examinations on Sunday, but have not released the results and say they are still waiting for toxicology tests 

Officers are thought to be investigating the possibility that the children were sedated with injections, before either being suffocated or given a lethal overdose

Officers are thought to be investigating the possibility that the children were sedated with injections, before either being suffocated or given a lethal overdose 

The family are not thought to have lived at the house for long, having moved in last year according to neighbours.

Mr McGinley is also reported to have attended a special Mass at St Finian’s Church, near the home, on Sunday where prayers were said for the family.

‘We pray especially for all parents and children,’ Father Kevin Doherty said. ‘Darkness has come but the light is among us… each of us can be light to the other.’ 

A Garda spokesperson said: ‘At approximately 7.45pm Friday 24 January 2020 Gardaí responded to a call at Parson’s Court, Newcastle, County Dublin.

‘Ambulance personnel and responding Gardaí discovered the bodies of three children in the house: Brothers and sister Conor (nine), Darragh (seven) and Carla (three) McGinley. 

‘A female relative, aged in her 40’s, was found at the scene and is currently receiving medical attention in Tallaght Hospital.

‘The scene is currently being examined by members of the Garda Technical Bureau. Assistant State Pathologist Margot Bolster has attended the scene.

‘The bodies of the three children have been removed to the City Morgue.’ 

A woman believed to be the children's mother was found 'wandering the streets' in a 'disoriented state'. Pictured: Tributes at the scene

A woman believed to be the children’s mother was found ‘wandering the streets’ in a ‘disoriented state’. Pictured: Tributes at the scene

Gardaí found her on the street near her house. Pictured: An ambulance at the scene today

Gardaí found her on the street near her house. Pictured: An ambulance at the scene today

There was no sign of a break-in at the house, sources said. Pictured: Police at the scene

There was no sign of a break-in at the house, sources said. Pictured: Police at the scene

Autopsies were completed by Assistant State Pathologist Margot Bolster at the Dublin City Morgue on Saturday evening.

Interim post-mortem results are not being published for operational reasons and further toxicology results are still awaited.

The house at Parson’s Court, Newcastle, in the south-west of the city, remains sealed off for examinations by the Garda Technical Bureau.

Councillor for the area Emer Higgins described the events as an ‘unimaginable tragedy’.

‘My thoughts are with everybody impacted,’ said the Fine Gael representative.

‘This is a really tight-knit community, it’s a small area, it’s a quiet area, and it’s just unthinkable that something like this could be happening on our doorstep.

‘It’s so tragic. It’s unbelievable that three young people’s lives could be cut short like that, in what seems to be a particularly tragic case.’

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