LAST UPDATE | 4 Sep 2022
THREE SIBLINGS HAVE died in Tallaght in Dublin 24.
At approximately 12.30am today, gardaí were informed of a violent incident occurring at a domestic residence in the Rossfield Estate.
A man in his early 20s has been arrested. It is understood that the victims were stabbed.
Gardaí remain at the scene which has been sealed off for an investigation. Other emergency services also attended the scene.
Gardaí initially said that three female siblings had died in the incident but have since confirmed that it was two sisters and a brother.
The three siblings – a female aged 18 and a boy and a girl aged eight (twins) – were removed from the scene by ambulance to Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin, where all three were later pronounced deceased.
Gardaí have confirmed the identities of the victims as Lisa Cash (18), Christy and Chelsea Cawley (eight).
A 14-year-old boy, another sibling, was removed from the scene to Tallaght University Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Following an intervention by Garda Armed Support Unit members, a man in his early 20s was arrested at the scene.
After gardaí arrived at the house they deployed what are known as ‘less than lethal weapons’ in an attempt to subdue the man.
They entered the house and it’s understood they used a taser on the man before arresting him.
This man is currently being detained at Tallaght Garda Station under section four of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
A woman, the mother of the children, who was not injured at the scene, was also removed to CHI Crumlin and is currently receiving medical treatment.
All people involved in this incident are believed to be known to each other. Gardaí are not looking for anyone else in relation to this incident, at this time.
Relatives and friends paid tribute to the three young children on social media, with one saying “I’m lost for words”.
Flowers have also been left at the scene. One floral tribute said: “Fly high little angels. Our hearts are broken for you all.”
There is still a large garda presence in the area while a full forensic examination of the scene is under way.
The upstairs windows of the property are open and smashed while blood stains can be seen on the window frames.
A smashed downstairs window also remained open while forensic officers examined the front garden.
Incident room
Gardaí in Tallaght have established an incident room and all the circumstances of this incident are being investigated under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer.
The scene in Rossfield Estate remains sealed off and a forensic examination will commence later today by the Garda Technical Bureau.
The Coroner’s Office and the Office of the State Pathologist have been informed. Post-mortems will be arranged.
“An Garda Síochána has appointed a family liaison officer and An Garda Síochána will continue to support the family involved in conjunction with other state agencies.
“This violent, challenging and traumatic incident was responded to by uniform unarmed garda first responders from the Tallaght District, supported by uniform members and armed detectives from the wider DMR South Division and Specialist Armed Support Unit members.
“An Garda Síochána has put in place welfare supports for, and will continue to support, all members who attended this incident,” a spokesperson said.
‘An unimaginable tragedy’
Local Sinn Féin councillor Dermot Richardson told RTÉ’s This Week programme that the community is in a sense of “shock and numbness”.
“I spoke with a family whose children went to school with the children that are deceased. It’s horrendous. They don’t know what to do. Do they send the kids to school tomorrow, do they not send them to school, is there anything in place?” he said.
“It’s a shock to the community, the whole of Tallaght and the whole of Ireland as well because when three lives are taken like that it’s horrendous.”
Local Fianna Fáil TD John Lahart also expressed his condolences, stating: “Words are pretty redundant on an occasion like this.”
In a statement Lahart said his thoughts “are with the mam and sibling of these young children whose lives have been cruelly ended in what has been described as a violent, challenging and traumatic event by gardaí”.
“My thoughts are also with immediate neighbours and the Rossfield Community.
“Tallaght Garda and the Garda Armed Intervention Unit are deserving of our admiration and respect. May these young siblings rest in peace.”
The killing of three young family members is a tragedy so awful and heartbreaking it is difficult to comprehend
— Helen McEntee TD (@HMcEntee) September 4, 2022
My thoughts are with the family and the local community as they deal with this unimaginable crime
Gardaí and other services are supporting them at this difficult time
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said: “This is a horrendous tragedy. My thoughts and solidarity with the family and community.”
Local Fianna Fáil councillor Charlie O’Connor told Brendan O’Connor on RTÉ Radio 1 that people in the area are devastated and “deeply shocked”.
“Children going to school in the morning will not have their friends with them, and it’s a really shocking event for this community and indeed for the wider Tallaght community and elsewhere,” he said.
“This event will affect many, many people. I was even talking to gardaí and they told me that their colleagues who were on last night were all deeply shocked…
“I can’t really imagine how people living beside the family [feel], we have to think of the family, think of our neighbours, think of the wider community.”
O’Connor said Brookfield Youth and Community Centre is open today for people to come together and support each other in their grief.
With reporting by Niall O’Connor, Jamie McCarron and Press Association
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