Complex reasons for making such a choice

It is a harsh reality that over time, once the names of tragic twins Thomas and Paddy O’Driscoll disappear from the headlines, they will forever remain in statistics as some of the country’s youngest victims of murder-suicide.

Experts in the area of suicide point out that, incidences of people killing another before taking their own lives are relatively rare — there were 19 from 2001 to 2013, which claimed the lives of 27 innocent victims. They admit, though, that the figures could be higher as there has been other cases where the perpetrator has tried to kill themselves after the murder but has been unsuccessful.

Suicide organisations have pointed out that the reasons why someone chooses to murder another before taking their own life are extremely complex.

They refer to academic literature which suggests that risk factors can include serious mental health problems and substance misuse, though mental health organisations point out that over-simplifying the reasons can lead to inaccurate conclusions.

Consultant psychiatrist, Dr Siobhán Barry, said there have been a number of cases, particularly in Britain where the perpetrator’s reasoning was “altruistic”, for example a parent killing a child who was chronically ill before taking their own life.

However, there is a deep concern among psychologists, that just as with suicide, every time a murder-suicide is highlighted, it raises the risk that the coverage may instil — even subliminally — in the mind of a vulnerable person that it is an option.

Professor Ella Arensman, director of research at the National Suicide Research Foundation, said the latest incident in Cork happened very soon after another incident in Sligo. In that case the body of a nine-year-old boy was discovered on July 20 in the family home along with the body of his 20-year-old brother who had apparently taken his own life. Professor Arensman said she was concerned that sensationalised media reporting could impact on vulnerable people and we could see further cases.

There have been incidences where a number of murder-suicides have taken place in the same area. For example, in Wexford three high profile cases occurred within three years, all in the month of April.

In April 2005, Sharon Grace walked from Wexford’s Ely Hospital towards Kaats Strand, just 300 yards away, with her three-year-old in her arms and her four-year-old by her side. There, shrouded in the darkness on Saturday April 16, 2005, Sharon drowned the two little girls, then drowned herself.

In April 2007, Leanne 5, and Shania, 3, were smothered by father Adrian Dunne at home in Monageer, Co Wexford. Adrian, 29, strangled his wife Ciara, 26, before killing himself.

In April 2008, businessman Diarmuid Flood, 41, shot wife Lorraine and drugged children Mark, 6, and Julie, 5, before setting fire to their home in Clonroche, Co Wexford, then shot himself.

According to Dr Siobhán Barry when a murder-suicide incident happens, “people become more used to the phenomenon”.

“In their minds, it becomes a way of sorting out life’s difficulties,” she said.