3 dead after shooting at farm
A father and two sons are dead after a shooting took place at a farm near Kanturk this morning.
The body of one of the sons, who was in his 20s, was found first by gardaí in a bedroom of the house.
After extensive searches this afternoon, the bodies of his brother, who was also in his 20s, and his father, in his late 50s, were found in a nearby field.
An Garda Síochána has commenced a full investigation into the incident. The State Pathologist and the Garda Technical Bureau are on the way to both scenes. Gardaí are not looking for any other persons in connection with this incident at this time.
At 6.30am gardaí in Kanturk were alerted to a firearms incident at Assolas near Kanturk.
A short time earlier, a female in her 60s arrived at a neighbour’s house and told them that a gun had been fired in her home. Gardaí were told that three males were present in the house, and that one male may have suffered from gunshot wounds.
Gardaí from Kanturk arrived shortly afterwards and were informed that further gunshots had been heard. An Garda Siochana initiated its critical firearms incident response. The family home was contained by local uniform and plain clothes gardaí supported by an armed support unit.
In addition the Emergency Response Unit, gardaí negotiators, a dog unit and an air support unit were all on the scene along with a specialist team from the HSE and cordons were set up in the area.
Throughout the morning, garda negotiators attempted to make contact with any persons in the house. After 1pm, members of the Emergency Response Unit approached the house and the body of a male in his 20s was discovered in a bedroom of the house. He had suffered a gunshot wound and no other persons were present in the house.
The Garda Air Support Unit helicopter then began an aerial search of adjoining lands. At approximately 1.40pm two further bodies, a male in his late 50s and a male in his 20s were discovered nearby. Both bodies have gunshot wounds.
The Garda Critical Incident response has now been stood down.
Both locations have been declared as crime scenes and An Garda Síochána has commenced a full investigation into all the circumstances of the incident.
A family liaison officer has been appointed and an incident room has been established in Kanturk.
An Garda Síochána is appealing to any person who may have any information which may assist in the investigation of the incidents which occurred this morning to contact investigating gardaí at Mallow Garda Station on 022-31450, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666111 or any garda station.