Gardaí are investigating if carbon monoxide poisoning caused three deaths in a remote country bungalow in Co Sligo last night.
Trevor Wallwork (52) and his daughter Kimberley, aged 12, and son Harry, aged nine, originally from England, apparently died while watching television. The dead man was found sitting in an armchair and the children were on the floor of the house at Moygara, near Gurteen.
They were discovered by his step-daughter when she was unable to reach the family on the phone and drove to the house at around 9.30pm. Two family dogs were also found dead in the house.
The woman, from England, called an ambulance to the home after discovering the bodies and medics then contacted local gardaí. A local doctor pronounced the man and two children dead at the scene shortly before 11pm.
The man’s wife was not in the house at the time as she is being treated in Sligo General Hospital for a serious illness.
Insp Colm Nevin, who is in charge of the Garda inquiry, said forensic officers were examining the possibility the family suffered carbon monoxide poisoning.
He said: “Gardaí have taken possession of a gas container which was found in a separate room and it was connected to a heater. There is no suggestion at this stage of foul play.”
Gardaí have sealed off the house. Deputy State Pathologist Michael Curtis has now completed a postmortem.
A neighbour said the first she knew of the tragedy was when she heard the ambulance arrive.
Gerry Murray, a Fine Gael councillor living in the area, said the small community of about 300 people had been left stunned.
“The details of the deaths we don’t know, but I do know that the village of Gurteen is very upset,” he said.
Gardai sources were last night describing the Gurteen event as “a tragic incident." They said they were keeping an open mind as to the causes of death and would be taking further tests.
Additional reporting: PA