Pictured: Twins, aged 8, and sister, 18, killed in 'violent incident' at house in Dublin

4 September 2022, 16:01 | Updated: 4 September 2022, 17:58

The three siblings who died in a 'violent incident' in Dublin have been named by police.

Lisa Cash, 18, and her younger brother and sister, eight-year-old twins Christy and Chelsea Cawley, were killed at a house in the Rossfield estate in Tallaght.

A man arrested following the deaths remains in custody, police in Ireland said.

Officers were called to the scene at about 12.30am on Sunday.

Lisa, Christy and Chelsea were taken by ambulance to Children's Health Ireland (CHI) in Crumlin, but all three were later pronounced dead.

Their mother, a woman in her 40s, has been released from hospital and is currently being supported by her family.

The victims' 14-year-old brother remains in Tallaght University Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

The Garda Armed Support Unit used less-than-lethal devices to arrest a man in his early 20s at the scene.

He is currently detained at Tallaght garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, the force said.

Gardai said everyone involved is believed to be known to each other and officers are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

The scene remains sealed off for a forensic examination by the Garda Technical Bureau.

Post mortems will take place on Sunday and Monday by state pathologist Dr Sally Anne Collis.

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Three siblings killed in violent incident in Dublin

Officers described it as a "violent, challenging and traumatic" incident which was responded to by unarmed Garda first responders from Tallaght District.

They were later supported by uniform members and armed detectives and specialist armed support unit members.

An Garda Siochana said it has appointed a family liaison officer and has also put in place welfare support for all officers who attended the incident.

The Republic of Ireland's justice minister, Helen McEntee, said the deaths were "so awful and heart-breaking it is difficult to comprehend".

She added: "My thoughts are with the family and the local community as they deal with this unimaginable crime.

"Gardai and other services are supporting them at this difficult time."

Fianna Fail councillor Charlie O'Connor, who was at the scene on Sunday morning, said there is widespread shock in the community.

"I don't know how to describe it. I was getting calls from early morning with people bringing it to my attention," Mr O'Connor said.

"People are only now beginning to come out of their houses. I was at the Catholic Church a while ago and a lot people hadn't heard, but the news was getting through.

"There is deep shock, people are really, really upset, any event like this would cause shock but the fact that it involves children, it's a really shocking event for this community, and indeed for the wider Tallaght community and elsewhere. This will affect many, many people.

"I was talking to the gardai and they told me that their colleagues who were on last night were all deeply shocked.

"It is terrible. We have to think of the family, think of their neighbours, think of the wider community.

"Attempts are being made to support the local community and the local Brookfield Youth and Community Centre has just confirmed to me that they're opening up now for the rest of the day.

"People are welcome to come and grieve and have a cup of tea and talk about their grief.

"I really find it shocking to think three children of that age are no longer with us and won't be going to school in the morning."