Educational psychologists counselled children, teachers and parents yesterday in the Firhouse schools attended by Glen and Andrew Keegan. The young boys were apparently killed by their mother Mary before she took her own life at their home in south Dublin sometime over the weekend.
Psychologists from the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) arrived at Scoil Carmel and Scoil Treasa early yesterday morning and will return there this morning.
Glen (9) was in fourth class in Scoil Treasa on Ballycullen Avenue. He was due to sing in a production of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs but the three-night production was cancelled as soon as news of the tragedy emerged.
Glen was described yesterday by school principal Maurice Curtin as "a beautiful, alert, alive, sporting 10-year-old".
In a statement, Mr Curtin said parents, pupils and staff at the school were all deeply saddened by the three deaths.
"All day, teachers have been helping and encouraging their pupils to deal with the tragic events. The school has been open to parents to support and to offer guidance in the wake of these events."
Andrew Keegan (6) was in first class at Scoil Carmel on the Firhouse Road. Glen had also attended this school for four years, as had their mother, many years earlier.
Principal Ursula Martin said the school's thoughts and prayers were with the Keegan's relatives.
"We are all very upset to hear the news of the tragic death of Mary Keegan and her two young sons Glen and Andrew," she said in a statement.
"You can appreciate that this is a difficult time for all of us and it is a tragedy for the whole community. Our priority here is to keep things as normal as possible for our young pupils."
The importance of keeping things normal was stressed by psychologist Ann Marie Sheehan, NEPS regional director for Dublin South West.
She said the psychologists in the two schools would be stressing the importance of maintaining a routine, as this would give children a sense of security.
"The schools have been apparently coping exceptionally well in the circumstances," she told The Irish Times.
The schools have been re- issued with a NEPS advice and information pack, Responding to Critical Incidents, which sets out the appropriate way to deal with grieving children and staff.
She said it was very important that teachers just dealt with the facts of the case and ignored speculation, as unfounded rumours could be very upsetting for children.
"It's important to give them time to talk, to listen to them and answer any questions they might have," said Ms Sheehan.
Parents should not worry if their children were very upset by the tragedy. This was a normal response to grief, she said. However, if the grief was still evident long after the event and accompanied by symptoms such as bed-wetting, then parents should become concerned.
Prayers were said for the Keegan family at Mass in Firhouse yesterday. Speaking on Morning Ireland, parish priest Fr Patrick Madden said the parish was deeply shocked, numbed and distressed.
"This tragedy which we've only learned about within the last 24 hours has really affected the community widely," he said.
"Words do fail us but we have to turn to each other and we turn to God. I have no doubt that community support is critical at this stage."
