Gardai have released further information about the deaths of three people in a suspected murder-suicide that has shocked a rural Irish community.
The family were killed at a property near Lixnaw in Co Kerry on Tuesday night.
Gardai believe that Eileen O’Sullivan and her son Jamie were shot dead by her partner Mossy before he turned the gun on himself by their home in Ballyreehan.
In a further update issued on Wednesday afternoon, it was confirmed that local members of the force in Listowel have begun a criminal investigation into the "fatal firearms incident".
Gardai also revealed a timeline of how the events unfolded on Tuesday.
They received a call at around 8.30pm from a member of the public who was concerned about the residences of a house at Kilfeighney in Lixnaw.
Local uniform and plainclothes gardai attended the scene, where the body of a 56-year-old woman and 24-year-old man were discovered. Both bodies appeared to have suffered gunshot wounds.
In a follow-up search outside the house, the body of a man, aged 63, was found at the boundary of the rear yard. He also had gunshot wounds and a firearm was recovered close to his body.
The scene was preserved overnight and the Garda Technical Bureau began a forensic examination on Wednesday afternoon which is still currently taking place.
Dr Margot Bolster, Locum Assistant State Pathologist, has also attended the scene.
The bodies of the three family members were taken to University Hospital Kerry, where state post mortems will take place.
Gardai said the results of the post mortems will determine the course of the investigation but their preliminary findings are that "all three persons died as a result of the gunshot wounds".
They are also not looking for anyone else in relation to this investigation.
A Family Liaison Officer has been appointed to the extended families gardai said they will "support the families during this personal tragedy for them".
A garda spokesperson added: "An Garda Síochána is also conscious of the severe impact this incident has on the tight knit community here in Kerry and we are appealing to this community or any other persons who may have any information in relation to the tragic events in Kilfeighney, Lixnaw to contact investigating Gardaí at Listowel Garda Station on 068 50820, the Garda Confidential Number 1800 666."
The local community in Lixnaw is said to be in "total disbelief" about the deaths of three members of the family.
They were well known in the area, with Eileen O’Sullivan's son involved in a local crane business in recent times.
Jamie played underage GAA for Crotta O'Neill's and had recently started working for an exporting company in Killarney.
It is understood that Mossy was a former bus driver and sheep farmer.
One young woman who studied alongside Jamie for several years at the Causeway Comprehensive school in Kerry said that she felt "sick to the stomach" when she heard of his death last night, and that "everyone who knew him from school is in shock right now."
Local parish priest Fr Anthony O’Sullivan said he went up to the house last night and said prayers for the three deceased.
“I said prayers at the house. I got a call and the guards said no problem and let me up. I prayed to three people and said prayers for the dead," he told the Irish Mirror.
“So look you don’t expect that. My heart is broken. I've been impacted with disbelief that this has happened.
“We’re in shock and numb. There’s a sense of unreality with this locally.
“It’s a tragedy. People are numb with shock. It’s a good community, a caring community and peoples hearts are broken."
- If you or anyone you know has been affected by anything in this story you can contact the Samaritans at 1850 60 90 90.
