Last Sunday they were in their local church, full of excitement and energy as they helped their grandmother collect leaflets and tidy up; yesterday they were buried side by side in the graveyard outside as their mother Kathleen, other family, friends, and community looked on.

On the best of days it can be difficult to reconcile the extremes endured by different individuals, families, communities or societies. On the worst of days it can be a great, character-defining challenge.

The home where Eoghan, 10, and Ruairí, 5, Chada grew up was cordoned off yesterday by gardaí to ensure their grief stricken mother and her family and friends could mourn in private.

A 43-year-old man appeared in court last night charged with the murder of his two schoolboy sons.

The father of two Co Carlow brothers has appeared in court charged with his sons' murders in Co Mayo.

Carlow man Sanjeev Chada is to appear before a special sitting of Swinford District Court at 9pm this evening charged in connection with the murders of his sons Eoghan (10) and Ruairi (5).

The bodies of five-year-old Ruairi and 10-year-old Eoghan are being returned home to Ballinkillen near Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, for their funerals in the coming days.

Gardaí have arrested the father of two young Co Carlow brothers found dead in Co Mayo earlier this week.

Detectives in two counties are investigating the deaths of two children found dead in a car driven by their father.

Gardaí are appealing for the public's help in tracing the movements of the car in which the bodies of two young brothers were discovered in Co Mayo.

Two children have died in a car accident after they went missing with their father.

Gardaí have cancelled a Child Rescue Ireland (CRI) alert issued earlier after two children were reported missing from their Carlow home.

Gardaí have issued the first alert on their emergency child rescue system after a father and his two young children disappeared.