GARDAÍ IN Limerick have arrested seven people in connection with yesterday’s double shooting in the city.

The seven – four men and three women, ranging in age from their 20s to their 50s – are being detained around the city under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007.

Post mortem examinations on the two victims, Breda Waters (28) and Des Kelly (23), are ongoing this afternoon.

The two were found dead in a house at Castle Oaks View in O’Malley Park yesterday. Initial reports suggested that the two died from gunshot wounds.

The body of Waters was found in an upstairs bedroom after gardaí were called to the scene at around noon yesterday; the body of Kelly was then found beside the back door of the house.

Kelly had a criminal record, having served time in prison for robbery and for dangerous driving causing the death of a teenage girl in 2003, RTÉ reports. He also had convictions for violent assault.

It is understood that the couple had recently started dating.

The Irish Times reported that the deaths were initially being treated as a murder-suicide, but Gardaí followed other lines of inquiry when no gun was found at the scene. A shotgun cartridge was found on the stairway in house, but there was no sign of a break-in. A full search of the property will take place after the bodies have been removed.

It is understood that Kelly and Waters had stayed in the house after a party there on Saturday night.

Kelly’s sister and her six-month old baby were also in the house; she told gardaí the she had heard shots on Sunday morning and found Kelly at the back door. She said she then discovered Waters upstairs.