Three O'Connor family found dead in Drumgowna, man charged

Three members of the same family were found dead at their rural home in Drumgowna, Co Louth, on the morning of Monday September 29, and a 31-year-old man has been charged with their murders, police said. Mark O'Connor, 54, his wife Louise, 56, and their son Evan, 27, were discovered deceased at the cottage shortly before 10am. Gardaí described the deaths as violent and have since charged Robert O'Connor, 31, with three counts of murder.

Gardaí were called to the residence in the Drumgowna area, near Tallanstown, after receiving a report just before 10am. On arrival uniform officers found the three family members dead. Forensic teams from the Garda National Technical Bureau and a divisional search unit examined the property, which remained sealed off while searches and scene examinations continued. A blue tent was erected in the driveway and the remains were removed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, where postmortem examinations were due to commence on Tuesday.

A male in his 30s known to the family was arrested the following day at Drogheda Garda Station and was initially detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. Garda evidence in court stated the...