Harrowing Offaly home firebomb attack details as brave granny screamed for child & gardai probe behind bars order theory

Cops believe the attack was over a grudge against a man known to the victims who is currently in prison
THE distraught granny of Tadhg Farrell screamed “the child is in the house” while it was engulfed in flames — as cops hunt two thugs they believe carried out the fatal arson attack.

Gardai are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry into the double murder of four-year-old Tadhg and his grandaunt Mary Holt, 60, in Edenderry, Co Offaly, on Saturday evening.

The Irish Sun can reveal that senior detectives now suspect a car pulled further up the Castleview Park estate and two men got out.

They ran up to the Holt home and lit the petrol bomb before throwing it through the front downstairs window of the property.

The pair then ran back to the car and escaped.

It is understood little Tadhg, who was being babysat and did not live there permanently, was in the front room with his grandaunt Mary but the child’s granny Pauline was elsewhere in the home at the time.

Shocked locals told how Pauline had attempted to get into the room but the fire was so strong she couldn’t reach the victims.

One resident told The Irish Sun: “She was outside screaming, ‘I couldn’t get back in to Mary and Tadhg’.

“She just kept saying, ‘The child is in the house, the child in the house’.”

Pauline was rushed from her home to Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore, where she remains in serious condition from burn injuries.

No suspect getaway vehicle has yet been recovered, nor have any arrests been made.

However, a number of suspects are being looked at, including a dangerous serial arsonist from another Midlands county.

This man has previously been involved in a number of feud-related incidents.

Both Pauline and Mary were entirely innocent and had no involvement in crime, but cops believe the attack was over a grudge against a man known to the victims who is currently in prison.

A line of inquiry being followed is that the arson attack was ordered from behind bars by this man’s rival, with both clashing in jail in recent days.

Sources said they were involved in a “relatively minor scrap” in the Midlands Prison prior to Saturday evening’s horror firebombing.

CELL SEARCHED

The suspect’s cell was searched following the petrol bomb attack and he was later transferred to Portlaoise’s A-Block.

Detectives have yet to rule out that the targeting of the home was linked to a drug debt, as the property previously had its windows smashed more than once by a local drugs mob.

A source told The Irish Sun: “The attack being ordered from prison is one aspect being looked at, but the massive investigation has multiple lines of inquiry running at once.

“The fact that a man known to the victims clashed with a rival in prison, not long before the petrol bombing took place, was always going to be looked at.

‘HOUSE WAS TARGETED PREVIOUSLY’

“But the house was targeted previously by a local gang as well — all these things are being examined and it’s a fast-moving investigation.

“The priority at the moment is getting the thugs who carried out the attack and arresting them.”

The double-murder probe is being led by detectives based at Tullamore Garda Station, who have successfully investigated the murders of teacher Ashling Murphy in 2022 and Laura Woodnutt in 2023.

The Irish Sun has also learned detectives from the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation are now involved.

SUPPORT FROM LOVED ONES

Tadhg’s devastated mother, who lives locally, is being supported by loved ones.

The scene was under technical examination until 12pm on Monday before the team of forensics experts completed their work.

Detectives from Tullamore were also at the scene and carried out door-to-door inquiries.

At the front wall of the home lay a long row of flowers as residents of Castleview Park mourn Tadhg and Mary.

GRIEF TURNING TO ANGER

One woman told The Irish Sun: “It’s just an awful thing for the family. It’s a terrible tragedy.

“Mary worked in the Ofalia House nursing home. She was a very quiet but pleasant woman.”

Another emotional local said that people’s grief is turning into anger.

They explained: “No one who was living in that house at the time was involved in anything. That poor child. When you see the picture of him, it breaks your heart. Everyone is devastated. But these drug gangs, they are everywhere and they are destroying places.”

‘TWO INNOCENT LIVES LOST’

Speaking at the scene, local Cllr Fergus McDonnell told The Irish Sun: “It’s a tragedy, certainly something that no community wants to have foisted on them in the manner that it was.

“Two innocent lives lost here through no fault of their own — a small child, a four-year-old child with a whole life ahead of him, and a grandaunt.”

He added: “Unfortunately the area has had an attraction in recent times with drug-related crime. This is a consequence of it because obviously the people that perpetrate this had no regard for human life.

“I’m quite sure it was possible they considered this is what they wanted to do — actually end somebody’s life, which is unbelievable.

‘LEVEL OF INHUMANITY DIFFICULTY TO COMPREHEND’

“There’s a huge anger and disgust at what has happened here in Edenderry and particularly among this close-knit community.”

Taoiseach Micheal Martin also described the incident as a “savage, callous and reckless attack on a family home”.

The Fianna Fail leader added: “The level of inhumanity is difficult to comprehend. Those responsible for this attack will be brought to justice and no effort will be spared by the gardai and by the State to ensure that that happens.”

Gardai — who branded the attack “reckless, callous and murderous” — are appealing for anyone with information to contact them.

A spokesperson added: “The investigation team can be contacted at the incident room at Tullamore Garda Station on 057 932 7600, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station, in particular Edenderry Garda Station.”