Picture postcard area shattered in a matter of hours

ON a bitterly cold and windswept hill overlooking the sea, only the presence of a garda outside the bungalow gave any clue of the horrific deaths of two young sisters inside.

The quaint white bungalow where the bodies of Zoe and Ella Butler were found is situated in one of the most picturesque parts of east Cork.

Close to Garryvoe beach and Ballycotton Bay, the large garden contained two trampolines on which Zoe played before her life and that of her younger sister Ella were tragically cut short.

Machinery, used by the girls’ father who worked in construction, was parked at the gable end of the bungalow. The driveway appeared to be under renovation. All signs of a happy, caring family and of a father working to build a loving home and a good life for his family.

By yesterday afternoon, the normally quiet and peaceful surroundings in which the young girls lived had been shattered, replaced by gardaí, camera crews, the media and passersby. Cars slowed down as they passed, with some locals out walking becoming visibly upset when passing the house.

Understandably, they were reluctant to speak. Many had either not heard the full details of the incident or were simply too upset to talk.

One fisherman repairing nets at the pier in Ballycotton spoke of John Butler as a “grand chap” and was at a loss to explain how he could have killed his two young daughters.

“He was a quiet man, really, a nice man. He was very fond of a game of cards, too. He suffered from a bit of depression last year and I didn’t see him out much as of late,” he said.