Three men arrested over fatal house fire in Offaly

Four-year-old Tadhg Farrell, and Mary Holt, 60, died in the house fire in Edenderry Co Offaly last year. Picture: Garda Info

Three men have been arrested in connection with an investigation into the deaths of a four-year-old boy and his grand-aunt in Offaly last year.

Little Tadgh Farrell and his grand-aunt Mary Holt, 60, died after a petrol bomb was thrown into the front window of the house they were in in Castleview Park in Edenderry on 6 December. 

At the time, Tadgh had been visiting his grandmother and his grand-aunt. 

Little Tadgh Farrell and his grand-aunt Mary Holt, 60, died after a petrol bomb was thrown into the front window of the house they were in in Castleview Park in Edenderry on 6 December. 

The bodies of Tadgh and Ms Holt were later found in the front room, where the fire had been deliberately started.

Tadgh’s grandmother, Pauline Holt, was also in the house and suffered serious injuries.

Gardaí have said that two men in their 20s and another man in his 30s were arrested on Tuesday afternoon as part of the ongoing investigation. 

They are currently being questioned at garda stations across the midlands under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, which allows them to be held for up to seven days.