A peaceful townland in the picturesque foothills of the Knockmealdown Mountains was shocked last night by the violent deaths of a French couple who had lived there for over a year.
The bodies of the man and woman, both in their forties, were found in the cottage they had bought and renovated at Carrigmore, on a remote road three miles from the town of Clogheen in south Tipperary.
An intensive Garda investigation was under way last night into the deaths and the State Pathologist and technical experts were expected at the scene.
There were no early indications that any third party was being sought, but gardai were reluctant to rule out a murder investigation pending detailed forensic examination.
The couple were named locally last night as Louis (46) and Chantal Bergeron (42), but formal identification was awaited. It is believed that both bodies appeared to have gunshot wounds and that a legally-held shotgun was found in the house.
The neat two-storey cottage, on about half an acre of well-maintained gardens, was cordoned off as inquiries continued. The couple's four-wheel-drive Nissan Patrol was parked in the gravel driveway and a light was switched on in a downstairs room.
Local sources said the couple had not been seen for two days and it is believed that the bodies were discovered by gardai after a friend reported that they had failed to keep an appointment for a fishing trip.
A neighbour, Mr Mick Norris, who lives about half a mile away, said he was stunned when he heard the deaths reported on local radio. "I can't believe it at all", he said.
Mr Norris said that the woman regularly went jogging on roads in the area in the mornings. He believed she was a dressmaker, but little was known about the couple. "They were nice and quiet and kept very much to themselves", he added.
On most Friday nights the couple visited Jeremiah Ryan's, a pub near Clogheen, to attend traditional music sessions. "That was their haunt", Mr Norris said.
They were well known to the proprietors of the bar, Batt and Annette Sweeney, who said they were often accompanied by French friends holidaying in the area. "They were very well liked and had a lot of friends", Mr Sweeney said.
Nobody in the locality reported hearing any gunshots, but there are only seven houses in the townland of Carrickmore and all are separated from each other by at least a quarter-mile of pasture and woodland.
Locals said that the husband was a keen hunting and fishing enthusiast, while his wife was vivacious and friendly. They socialised freely with locals at the music sessions.
The investigation into the deaths is being headed by Supt Ned Dwyer at Cahir Garda station, 10 miles away.
Gardai would not confirm reports that both bodies were found downstairs in the cottage, in different rooms.
The bodies remained in the cottage last night pending forensic examination and gardai were attempting to trace relatives of the couple in France.