Gardaí arrest father of Carlow brothers found dead

Gardaí have arrested the father of two young Co Carlow brothers found dead in Co Mayo earlier this week.

Sanjeev Chada (aged 43) was detained after being discharged from Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar this afternoon.

The bodies of five-year-old Ruairi and 10-year-old Eoghan were discovered in the boot of their father's car on Monday.

He has been taken to Westport Garda Station for questioning.

A garda statement said the investigation was a murder inquiry.

"A man aged in his 40s has been arrested by Gardai investigating the murders of 10-year-old Eoghan Chada and 5-year-old Ruairi Chada," the statement said.

"He was arrested earlier today in Castlebar and is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at Westport Garda Station."

As detectives quiz Mr Chada, the boys' heartbroken mother Kathleen, a nurse who is originally from the area, is being comforted by friends and relatives, including her parents, Willie and Patsy Murphy.

Ballinkillen parish priest Father Declan Foley visited the family home earlier today, where it is understood funeral preparations are under way.

He said: “The funeral will be in Ballinkillen of course, but we won’t know when until the relevant authorities release the boys to their mother.”

The children have been remembered as two beautiful, popular little boys who had a great sense of fun and humour and loved sports.

Post-mortem examinations were carried out on their bodies at Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar, yesterday but gardaí said the official results would not be released due to operational reasons .

Mr Chada was last seen with the children at 6.30pm on Sunday, leaving their home supposedly to go to the Dome Bowling Centre in Carlow town.

Gardaí issued the first ever amber alert for missing children – the Child Rescue Ireland Alert – after he failed to return home with them.

Mr Chada is also being investigated by gardai over the disappearance of €50,000 from a local community centre in recent weeks.

Gardaí have reiterated an appeal to the business community, particularly owners of service stations and fast food outlets, to review their C.C.T.V. footage in respect of a dark green Ford Focus car registration number 06 CW 238 between the hours of 6.30pm on Sunday evening and 3.30pm on Monday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Westport Garda Station on 098-50230 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.