Fifth arrest made in connection with fatal petrol bomb attack in Edenderry 

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

Gardaí investigating the deaths of a four-year-old boy and his grand-aunt in Co Offaly last year have made another arrest, bringing to five the number of people currently being detained by gardaí in connection with the investigation. 

Tadgh Farrell and 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 December 6.

Tadgh had been visiting his grandmother and his grandaunt at the time. 

The bodies of Tadgh and Ms Holt were later found in the front of the home. Tadgh’s grandmother, Pauline Holt, was also in the house and suffered serious injuries.

Four men have been arrested so far in relation to the investigation. In an update on Thursday morning, gardaí said they arrested a man in his 20s on Wednesday evening. 

All five men are currently being detained at Garda stations in the East and the Midlands under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, which allows them to be held for up to seven days.