Gardai: 'No motive for double killing'

A full-scale murder investigation is underway into the deaths of a young Chinese couple who were strangled before an arson attack on their central Dublin flat.

However, Gardai have stressed they had found no motive for the double killing.

Garda Chief Superintendent Al McHugh said: "There is nothing to suggest any connection with any Triads, or anything of a racist nature. It is a straightforward murder investigation at this stage".

He appealed to members of the Chinese community in Dublin who may have known the dead couple to come forward.

He also said: "Any murder is horrific, but particularly this type. The deceased would have been dead some time before the fire took place".

He said it was thought petrol had been used in burning the apartment.

"We are asking any garage owners who may have sold petrol in a small quantity over the previous 24 hours to contact us."

The pair, both believed to be of Chinese origin and in their early 20s, were discovered dead on a bed in their burned-out apartment early yesterday.

At first it was believed they had died as a result of the blaze, but today a pathologist’s report confirmed both had been strangled before their killer set fire to their home, probably using petrol and causing an explosion.

The couple were thought to have been living in Dublin for about eight months and had been working part-time while they studied English at a language school.