Posted by The bodies of a six-year-old girl and her father, who died in a suspected murder-suicide, were discovered by the child’s mother when she returned home from work.
Gardaí have confirmed there were no signs of a break-in at the terraced home, in the Heathfield estate, in Finglas, north Dublin – at the back of Cappagh Hospital – where the bodies were discovered, shortly before 8 pm on Saturday.
Gardaí are not looking for anyone else in relation to the deaths of the father and daughter, who are believed to be originally from Poland.
The girl, aged six, is believed to have been strangled while her father, believed to be in his 30s, was found hanged. The mother called the emergency services and gardaí, asking them to assist her resuscitation efforts after she found her child and partner, but tragically, the pair were already dead. The family had been living in Ireland for some time.
Garda sources confirmed there was no sign of a break-in or external involvement. The scene has been preserved for a technical examination by senior forensics officers.
The Office of the State Pathologist and the Coroner have been notified, Gardaí said. Post-mortem examinations will be carried out in the coming days.
Their bodies were removed from the scene yesterday, shortly before midday, following the completion of an initial forensic examination. Gardaí are stressing the investigation is in its early stages, and an incident room has been set up under a senior investigating officer at Finglas Garda Station.
A family liaison officer has been appointed to help relatives. The father of the child is understood to have worked as a bus driver. Gardaí confirmed the girl’s mother found their bodies after she came home from work.
Who Watches the Watchers? 