Police in the Republic have released CCTV of a firebomb attack which killed the four-year-old and his grandaunt aged 60
Horrific CCTV footage shows firebomb attack that killed Tadhg, 4, and grandaunt in Offaly
This is the moment two hooded thugs hurled a firebomb at a house in Edenderry, Co Offaly, in an attack claiming the lives of a four year old and his grandaunt.
Gardai have made the unprecedented step of releasing CCTV footage of the moment young thugs smashed up and threw a missile at the house in the Castlepark estate in Offaly on Saturday night.
The Irish Mirror reported that officers are hoping the footage helps them identify the gang responsible for the attack -which has sent shockwaves around the country.
Speaking today Chief Superintendent Anthony Lonergan, Laois/ Offaly Garda Division said: “I want to reassure the community here in Edenderry and throughout Laois/ Offaly Division that I will ensure that An Garda Síochána is here to support you through this traumatic event, but also that An Garda Síochána is determined, and will identify all those responsible for the deaths of Tadhg and Mary and bring them before the courts.
“I appeal directly to any person with any information on this violent fatal incident to speak with investigating Gardaí.”
In a new update this evening gardai said they continue to investigate all the circumstances of a fatal house fire that occurred at a domestic residence in Castleview Park, Edenderry, Co. Offaly on the evening of Saturday 6th December, 2025.
“While this was a reckless, callous and murderous attack on a family home An Garda Síochána continues to keep an open mind as to the reasons and motives for this attack,” they stated.
“On Saturday 6th December 2025 4-year-old Tadhg Farrell was visiting his grandmother and his grand-aunt Mary Holt at Castleview Park, Edenderry, Co. Offaly.
“On Saturday 6th December 2025 the Christmas Tractor Run took place in Edenderry at 6pm, attended by over 250 tractors raising money for local charitable causes.
“Shortly before 7.45pm this family home at Castleview Park was attacked. The remains of Tadhg and his grandaunt Mary were discovered in the front room of the house where the fire was deliberately started,” gardai added.
Tadhg’s grandmother continues to receive hospital treatment for serious burn injuries, they said.
“The Garda investigation into the murder of Tadhg Farrell and Mary Holt continues to be led by the Serious Crime Unit Laois/ Offaly Garda Division, supported by all necessary resources from Laois/ Offaly Garda Division, the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI), the Garda Síochána Analysis Service and other National Units.
Post-mortem examinations on the remains of Tadhg Farrell and Mary Holt have been completed, gardai added. The results of the post-mortem examinations are not being released for operational reasons.
The spokesperson continued: “An Garda Síochána through family liaison officers continue to liaise with and support the families of Tadhg and Mary at this time as they prepare for family funerals.
“To date the Garda investigation team has carried out over 150 investigative jobs, carried out over 250 house to house enquiries, retrieved over 60 pieces of CCTV and taken over 100 written documents. An Garda Síochána acknowledges the support shown by the local community in Edenderry, and wider area, to the families and to An Garda Síochána.
“Tadhg should be with his family today. His grandaunt Mary should be working in a local nursing home where she worked for over 40 years helping her community.”
As this paper previously revealed, gardai are looking at an assault incident which occurred in the Midlands Prison on the Friday which they suspect may be the spark to the incident – albeit in the context of a wider drugs row.
A prisoner, who was assaulted by a man who is known to the deceased behind bars, is suspected to have made contact with his associates outside – and the attack was subsequently ordered. However sources have also stressed that there remains an ongoing drugs dispute – and other motives have not fully been ruled out at this stage.
Gardai recently searched cells within the Midlands Prison in an effort to find any illegal phone that may have been used to order the attack. They have also informally attempted to speak to the prisoner – who was transferred to an isolated cell in the country’s maximum security prison – Portlaoise.
That incident is suspected of possibly sparking the victim of that assault to contact a criminal associate from behind bars – setting in motion a revenge plot to firebomb the house in the Castleview Park estate on Saturday night.
The prisoner who was assaulted refused to make a formal complaint to the Irish Prison Service after he was attacked. It is now feared that an illegal mobile phone was used to contact someone on the outside to arrange for the revenge attack, following the prison assault.
Sources said for now the suspect in this case isn’t going anywhere – and is now isolated in a single cell while investigators continue to gather evidence.
Gardai are also understood to be investigating a dangerous serial arsonist in relation to the case, and have not ruled out the involvement of others either. They are still in the process of trying to harvest CCTV and find a suspected getaway vehicle used in the incident.
Tragic Tadhg is understood to have been staying over at the house to watch the Late Late Toy Show with his grandaunt – and was residing there for the duration of the weekend.
His granny, Pauline Holt, was also residing at the house and remains in hospital with serious injuries incurred from the fire. Little Tadhg and Mary were left trapped in a downstairs room of the house and passed away as a result of the horrific fire that quickly spread after 7:30pm on Saturday evening.
Death notices for both Mary and Tadhg were released on RIP.ie on Wednesday – with funeral arrangements to be updated on the site at a later stage.
Young Tadhg’s death notice stated that his “sudden and tragic passing has left his family and friends heartbroken.”
“Softly held in the arms of angels he will be forever missed and remembered by his loving family: mother Shannon, dad Aaron, grandmothers Karen and Pauline, granddad Richard, sisters Ella Brooke, Heidi Lee and Nevaeh, great-grandmother Marian, aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives and friends,” the notice added.
The notice for Mary Holt stated that she was predeceased by her parents Micháel and Peg, sister Caroline and brother-in-law Pat.
“Mary’s tragic passing has left her family, friends and work colleagues in Ofalia House devastated and heartbroken. She will be sadly missed and forever remembered by her loving family: brothers and sisters Michael, Johnny, Margaret, Christy, Declan, Pauline and Brendan, their husbands, wives and partners, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, relatives, friends and especially her work colleagues in Ofalia House, Edenderry,” it stated.
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan said on Monday it was a “murderous attack” that was “designed to kill” those living in the house.Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he confirmed one line of inquiry is that it was carried out by those involved in the drugs trade.He said if this is the case, “it just confirms that drugs are destroying societies, and people who get involved in drugs need to know that they will wreak devastation, not just on themselves, but on those close to them and families in the area”.
This was an attack that was designed to kill the inhabitants,” he said, adding that gardaí will “relentlessly pursue the violent and dangerous criminals responsible for this murderous attack”.On Sunday, Supt Liam Geraghty said gardaí believe the house “was attacked” by one or a number of perpetrators and the fire deliberately started. He added it was “a reckless, callous and murderous attack on a family home”.
Gardaí have opened a double murder investigation, led by a senior investigating officer at Tullamore Garda station. 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.
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