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.

Sharon’s family, friends and the community yesterday paid their final respects to the young mother and her two little girls, as gardaí continue to examine the scene of the tragedy.

It is understood Sharon’s father Christy had visited the cottage to drop off presents for the children on Christmas Eve and that he left at about 11.30pm.

It is also understood that gardaí have questioned a second person who visited the house in the early hours of Christmas morning.

Gardaí have not officially upgraded their investigation to a murder inquiry, but the cause of Ms Whelan’s death suggests she may not have died as a result of a tragic accident as was first thought.

“The forensic and technical examination of the scene of the fire at Roscon is continuing and analysis of the information collected is ongoing,” a Garda spokesperson said. Investigating gardaí also made an appeal “to any person who may have any information, however slight” to contact them.

Gardaí are also awaiting results of a series of toxicology tests carried out on the body of Ms Whelan as part of their investigations.