News Story

A man arrested on suspicion of murder following a fatal house fire in Co Offaly, in which a woman and child died, has been released without charge.

Four-year-old Tadhg Farrell and his great-aunt Mary Holt were killed in the house fire in Castleview Park, Edenderry, on December 6.

On Wednesday, gardai said a man in his late 20s had been detained on suspicion of murder under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a garda station in the midlands.

On Thursday they said he had been released without charge and that a file will be prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

In the statement they said: “Investigations are ongoing.”

The young boy’s grandmother also received hospital treatment for serious burn injuries.

The child had been visiting his grandmother and great-aunt when the home was attacked shortly before 7.45pm.

Investigators previously released CCTV footage of the attack that appears to show two hooded individuals smashing a window before setting an object on fire and throwing it into the property.