Irish police have launched a murder investigation after two people died in a house fire in Co Offaly.
A woman and a young boy died following the blaze in Edenderry’s Castleview Park on Saturday evening.
Another woman was hospitalised and being treated for injuries.
Gardai said on Sunday afternoon that they had opened a murder probe.
They said that they believe the house was attacked by a person or persons unknown, and that the fire was deliberately started.
“This was a reckless, callous and murderous attack on a family home,” they said.
A garda spokesperson said: “Emergency services, including Offaly Fire and Rescue Service, National Ambulance Service and Gardai responded to the fire shortly before 7.45pm.
“The fire was extinguished and the remains of two persons, a woman aged 60 and a four-year-old boy, were discovered deceased.
“A second woman, aged in her 50s, was transported from the scene by the National Ambulance Service and is receiving hospital treatment for serious injuries.
“The house has been declared a crime scene and is currently subject to technical examination by the Garda technical bureau.
“The office of the local coroner and the state pathologist have been notified.”
They added: “The remains of both deceased have been removed from the scene and post-mortems will be carried out by the assistant state pathologist Margot Bolster at the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore, commencing this afternoon.
“This murder investigation is being co-ordinated from an incident room at Tullamore garda station under the direction of a senior investigating officer.
“An Garda Siochana believes that the house was attacked by a person or persons unknown at this time, and that the fire was deliberately started. This was a reckless, callous and murderous attack on a family home.”
Gardai are appealing for any person with any information on the incident to speak with investigating officers.
They have asked to speak with anyone who was in the vicinity of Castleview Park, or adjoining roads between 7pm and 8pm on Saturday, or who was driving in the vicinity of Castleview Park, or adjoining roads between 7pm and 8pm on Saturday, and may have any dashcam video footage or images to contact investigating Gardai.
The investigation team can be contacted at the incident room at Tullamore garda station on 057 932 7600, the garda confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station, in particular Edenderry garda station.
