The husband of a woman who died tragically with her two sons in Firhouse, Dublin, earlier this week called for privacy from the media last night.
Solicitors acting on behalf of Brian Keegan, husband of Mary Keegan and father to Andrew and Glen, who died at Killakee Walk over the weekend, issued a statement thanking family, friends, neighbours, the Garda Síochána and emergency services for their support and calling on the media to respect his privacy.
"As you can appreciate Brian is devastated and in shock. He is being comforted and supported by family and friends and has been attended by his family doctor," the statement from Robert Anderson of Anderson & Gallagher Solicitors said.
"He has asked that I express his sincere thanks to his family, friends, neighbours and work colleagues of both himself and Mary who have given him wonderful support at this dreadful time.
"He would also like to thank the Garda Síochána, emergency services and the local schools for the caring and sensitive manner in which they have dealt with this tragedy.
"His one request now is that he be left alone and given time to grieve.
"Finally, his family and friends have asked - while fully appreciating that newspaper reporters and broadcasters have a job to do - that their readers and viewers would understand Brian's need and wish to be left alone, and his privacy respected, at this time of unspeakable grief."
The postmortem examination of Ms Keegan and her two sons concluded yesterday, with a coroner authorising the release of their bodies to relatives.
Gardaí remained in close contact with Mr Keegan yesterday, in an effort to establish why his wife killed the couple's two young sons and then took her own life at the family home.
The principal of the school that Andrew attended said she was still unaware of any arrangements for the funeral of the Keegans. Ursula Martin, principal of Scoil Carmel on the Firhouse Road, added that the funeral was unlikely to occur either today or tomorrow.
Children at the junior school begin their mid-term break today and will not return to school until Monday morning. "We sent a letter out to parents today, saying that we feel a child's place is with their parents and it would be up to parents to decide whether to take their child to the funeral," said Ms Martin.
She added the school had taken this measure in recognition of the fact that children in the school are very young.
In the event that the funeral of the deceased Keegan brothers and their mother does not take place until next week, Ms Martin said the school would most likely close for the day.