How the Dunne tragedy in Wexford unfolded.
FRIDAY MORNING:A HSE public health nurse visits the Dunne family (right) at their home on the Moine Rua estate, Monageer, for routine developmental checks on three-year-old Shania and five-year-old Leanne. The nurse later reports having no reason for concern following the meeting.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON:Ciara Dunne drives her husband, Adrian, and their daughters to New Ross. They make inquiries about funerals with Cooney's undertakers in the town. Mr Dunne also finalises his will. Undertaker Frances Cooney becomes concerned for the family's safety because of the nature of their queries, which include questions about coffins and burial plots.
She contacts gardaí in New Ross. A detective on duty tells her to contact Fr Richard Redmond, who knows the family and who would be well placed to assess their wellbeing.
FRIDAY EVENING:Fr Redmond visits the Dunne family home for two hours and while the family do not appear distressed, Fr Redmond's concerns for their welfare are not fully allayed.
SATURDAY MORNING:Fr Redmond contacts Monageer parish priest Fr Bill Cosgrave by phone and asks him to visit the Dunnes.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON:Fr Cosgrave calls to the house. The blinds are pulled down and there is no answer.
Gardaí first contact HSE officials in Wexford by phone. According to Supt Kevin Donohoe of the Garda Press Office, the HSE official spoken to promises to raise the case with a colleague and act on the matter.
According to the HSE, its officials reminded gardaí that they (the gardaí) have the power under section 12 of the Childcare Act to remove the Dunne children immediately into the care of staff at Wexford General Hospital if they feared for the girls' safety. Locals report seeing at least one of the girls still alive at about 1.30pm.
SATURDAY EVENING:The dead man's brother, Sebastian Dunne (right), speaks to his brother by phone at about 6.30pm. He later reports hearing his sister-in-law and two nieces in the background.
SUNDAY:A Garda patrol car from Ferns station drives into the Moine Rua estate a number of times and past the Dunne family home as part of the Garda's safety check on the family.
MONDAY MORNING:Fr Cosgrave calls to the Dunnes again, but there is no answer. Gardaí again contact the HSE and agree that members of the force will meet with HSE officials at the Dunne family home and call to see them. This is the first effort by the HSE or the Garda at direct contact with the family since the safety fears first emerged on Friday afternoon. The initial morning appointment between the HSE staff and the Garda is rescheduled until 2pm.
MONDAY AFTERNOON:Gardaí arrive at the scene just before 2pm. They see the blinds drawn and their calls go unanswered. They forcibly enter the house through the back door and find Mr Dunne hanging in the hallway and his wife and two daughters dead in the livingroom, having apparently been smothered.
- Conor Lally