Taoiseach: Firearms laws may need to be examined in wake of Lixnaw tragedy

It was the absence of Eileen out walking the family pet Henry which initially raised the alarm for neighbours 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: "These are devastating events, and the enormity of them are quite shocking." Pictures: Neil Michael

The Taoiseach has expressed his sympathies to the victims of the Lixnaw murder-suicide.

Speaking at the Fianna Fáil think-in in Cavan, Micheál Martin said that while he did not wish to preempt the investigation into the deaths Mossie, Eileen and Jamie O'Sullivan, he believed that there may need to be some examination of firearms laws.

"First of all my deepest sympathies go to the family of those who were killed and to the community.

"These are devastating events, and the enormity of them are quite shocking.

"I do think we need to evaluate and reflect on this. But I'd like to hear the full analysis from all authorities from different disciplines the gardaí and try to get a sense of what happened here.

"It has happened elsewhere as well in the country in recent times, and it is a very significant worry.

"So I do think we need to reflect on that and learn lessons from it and then apply it in a number of areas.

"And I don't want to preempt what happened here, but I think we can't ignore events of this kind."

Post-mortem results expected later today

Post-mortem results on the bodies of Eileen, Jamie and Morris O'Sullivan are expected later today as gardaí try to establish a motive for the killings. 

Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster has completed one post-mortem thus far and the others will take place later today. 

Local sources told the Irish Examiner that Morris O'Sullivan was  a "meticulous" man who always planned his time out carefully, and the family had such a regular routine that it was the absence of Eileen out walking the family pet Henry which initially raised the alarm. 

Henry, the much-loved pet of the Lixnaw family found dead in tragic circumstances on Tuesday night has been left heartbroken, according to the founder of a charity rescue centre which is minding the terrier cross.

The 16-year-old terrier cross had been well looked after, and had had a good life, taken for regular walks and veterinary treatment, Maurice Enright of Sera Husky Animal Rescue said.

Henry, the 16-year-old terrier owned by the O'Sullivan family.

“He is a credit to the family,” Mr Enright said.

Neighbours had taken Henry in on Wednesday but he managed to go back to his home where Eileen (56) her son Jamie (24) and Mossie (63) had been found dead from gunshot wounds. One garda got a bite from the confused dog as members of the force tried to get him on a lead.

“He’s very sad. He’s heartbroken,” Mr Enright said.

Mr Enright hopes Henry will come around with help from volunteers. Like other dogs he has seen this year whose owners have died, Henry is fine physically but is mentally affected and is “lacklustre”.

Henry is now sleeping at the end of the sofa and the centre is going to give him as much time as he needs. 

Henry has been taken in by a local animal shelter

After Mr Enright was interviewed on Radio Kerry, relatives of the O’Sullivans contacted him to ask if they could take in the elderly terrier.