Gardaí close to arrest in fire probe

GARDAÍ are expected to make an arrest in the coming days on foot of their investigations into the discovery of the bodies of a young mother and her two daughters in a house fire in Kilkenny on Christmas morning.

It is understood detectives have already questioned an individual they believe was the last person to see Sharon Whelan, 30, alive in the rented cottage where she was found dead with her daughters Zsara, 7, and Nadia, 2. The bodies of Sharon, Zsara and Nadia were all taken from their beds in the blazing cottage by neighbours and fire crews at 9am on Christmas morning. A Garda investigation was launched after postmortem results are understood to have shown there was no smoke in Sharon’s lungs and that there were ligature marks on her neck.

It is now understood people working closely with the investigation team have been told to expect an arrest and possible court appearance in the coming days.