Bodies of mother and two children found on beach

The bodies of a mother and her two children have been found on a beach in County Wexford this morning.

The mother has been named locally as Sharon Grace from the Barntown area near Wexford town.

It is believed that took a taxi from her home in the south east to a town centre with her two youngest daughters, Abby, three and four-year-old Michaela in the early hours of today.

They were discovered by fishermen on a Kaats Strand, just outside Wexford town at around 10am.

Mrs Grace, who was separated from her husband and had another daughter aged 10, was believed to be suffering from depression, gardaí have said.

The bodies have since been removed to Wexford General Hospital where State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy is due to carry out post mortem examinations later this evening.

A garda spokesman described it as an “absolute tragedy”.

He added: “It would seem that a mother brought her two children into the water.”

Officers said there did not seem to be anything suspicious in the deaths.

A garda at Wexford Station said: “All three were found in the water. It is a tragic situation.”

The mother, who was separated from her husband, was reported missing at 2.25am today.

Her family has been told of the tragedy.