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| Louth: Mother, father and autistic son suffered violent deaths, gardaí say | Louth: Mother, father and autistic son suffered violent deaths, gardaí say |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Evan O'Connor was found dead alongside his parents Mark and Louise O'Connor | Evan O'Connor was found dead alongside his parents Mark and Louise O'Connor |
| Three members of a family who were found dead at their home in Drumgowna, County Louth, suffered "violent" deaths, gardaí (Irish police) have said. | Three members of a family who were found dead at their home in Drumgowna, County Louth, suffered "violent" deaths, gardaí (Irish police) have said. |
| They confirmed the victims' names as Louise O'Connor, who was 56, her 54-year-old husband Mark O'Connor and their 27-year-old son, Evan O'Connor. | They confirmed the victims' names as Louise O'Connor, who was 56, her 54-year-old husband Mark O'Connor and their 27-year-old son, Evan O'Connor. |
| Supt Andrew Watters told reporters that it was a homicide incident and post-mortem examinations were due to begin on Tuesday. | Supt Andrew Watters told reporters that it was a homicide incident and post-mortem examinations were due to begin on Tuesday. |
| A man in his 30s has been charged in connection with the deaths, but details of the charge will not be disclosed until he appears in court later on Tuesday. | |
| The O'Connor family are "very well-known and respected," the officer told reporters who had gathered at Drogheda Garda Station. | The O'Connor family are "very well-known and respected," the officer told reporters who had gathered at Drogheda Garda Station. |
| "They are good neighbours and an integral part of their local community in Drumgowna and wider area of Louth and Monaghan," he said. | "They are good neighbours and an integral part of their local community in Drumgowna and wider area of Louth and Monaghan," he said. |
| Supt Andrew Watters told reporters the O'Connor family are "very well known and respected" | Supt Andrew Watters told reporters the O'Connor family are "very well known and respected" |
| Officers will support their surviving family members "as they come to terms with this tragedy", he added. | Officers will support their surviving family members "as they come to terms with this tragedy", he added. |
| Supt Watters added they would also support the Drumgowna community "as they come to terms with the violent death of their neighbours". | Supt Watters added they would also support the Drumgowna community "as they come to terms with the violent death of their neighbours". |
| Bodies 'found by day care worker' | Bodies 'found by day care worker' |
| Gardaí, including an armed response unit, were called to the house shortly before 10:00 local time on Monday. | Gardaí, including an armed response unit, were called to the house shortly before 10:00 local time on Monday. |
| The property is on a rural road in Drumgowna, near the villages of Killanny, Louth and Tallanstown, and is close to the County Louth/Monaghan border. | The property is on a rural road in Drumgowna, near the villages of Killanny, Louth and Tallanstown, and is close to the County Louth/Monaghan border. |
| Evan was autistic and since he became an adult nine years ago he attended The Hub daycare centre in Drogheda five days a week. | Evan was autistic and since he became an adult nine years ago he attended The Hub daycare centre in Drogheda five days a week. |
| Irish broadcaster RTÉ said it understood the bodies were found by a staff member who had called to the family's home to take Evan to the centre. | Irish broadcaster RTÉ said it understood the bodies were found by a staff member who had called to the family's home to take Evan to the centre. |
| It also said gardaí had ruled out the use of a firearm during the incident. | It also said gardaí had ruled out the use of a firearm during the incident. |
| The family home in rural County Louth has been cordoned off for a forensic examination | The family home in rural County Louth has been cordoned off for a forensic examination |
| The Hub day care is run by Praxis Care and in a statement, its staff said they were "heartbroken" by the family's deaths. | The Hub day care is run by Praxis Care and in a statement, its staff said they were "heartbroken" by the family's deaths. |
| "Evan, our little buddy, was nothing short of a bright shining star, loved and adored by all the staff in The Hub," their statement said. | "Evan, our little buddy, was nothing short of a bright shining star, loved and adored by all the staff in The Hub," their statement said. |
| They described him as a "bright, jolly young man with so much to offer life". | They described him as a "bright, jolly young man with so much to offer life". |
| They added he loved to sing and "had a knack for one liners that never failed to make people laugh". | They added he loved to sing and "had a knack for one liners that never failed to make people laugh". |
| Mr and Mrs O'Connor, who was a nurse, actively campaigned for better services for autistic people in their community. | |
| In 2003, they were among a small group of parents who helped to set up Drogheda Abacas Special School in County Louth and Evan was one of its first pupils. | In 2003, they were among a small group of parents who helped to set up Drogheda Abacas Special School in County Louth and Evan was one of its first pupils. |
| On its Facebook page, staff at the school paid tribute to the family, expressing the "deepest sadness" over their deaths. | On its Facebook page, staff at the school paid tribute to the family, expressing the "deepest sadness" over their deaths. |
| "Evan attended Abacas for 14 years. He grew up with us," the school said. | "Evan attended Abacas for 14 years. He grew up with us," the school said. |
| It added that Mr and Mrs O'Connor were "passionate advocates for their son Evan and for all autistic people". | It added that Mr and Mrs O'Connor were "passionate advocates for their son Evan and for all autistic people". |
| "They campaigned, lobbied and fundraised for the school and youth clubs and will always be remembered for their legacy to Abacas and to autistic people." | "They campaigned, lobbied and fundraised for the school and youth clubs and will always be remembered for their legacy to Abacas and to autistic people." |
| The school said Mr O'Connor was also a board member of Autism Support Louth and Meath and worked as a "professional advocate for the rights of people with disabilities". | The school said Mr O'Connor was also a board member of Autism Support Louth and Meath and worked as a "professional advocate for the rights of people with disabilities". |
| Taoiseach's sympathy over 'appalling killings' | Taoiseach's sympathy over 'appalling killings' |
| Since 2021, Mr O'Connor worked as a regional manager in Ireland's National Advocacy Service, which supports adults with disabilities. | Since 2021, Mr O'Connor worked as a regional manager in Ireland's National Advocacy Service, which supports adults with disabilities. |
| "Mark was known to us all as a true gentleman in the way he treated those around him," its national manager Joanne Condon said. | "Mark was known to us all as a true gentleman in the way he treated those around him," its national manager Joanne Condon said. |
| "His warmth, generosity of spirit and professionalism touched countless lives within our workplace and beyond." | "His warmth, generosity of spirit and professionalism touched countless lives within our workplace and beyond." |
| Ms Condon said he was passionate about human rights and had a "particular interest" in giving disabled people a voice in decisions that affected their lives. | Ms Condon said he was passionate about human rights and had a "particular interest" in giving disabled people a voice in decisions that affected their lives. |
| She described him as a "kind, thoughtful and valued colleague" and said her staff "will greatly miss his friendship". | She described him as a "kind, thoughtful and valued colleague" and said her staff "will greatly miss his friendship". |
| Mrs O'Connor was a carer for her son Evan and also volunteered and raised money for charities. | Mrs O'Connor was a carer for her son Evan and also volunteered and raised money for charities. |
| Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin expressed his "deepest sympathies to the wider O'Connor family and community at the appalling killings". | Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin expressed his "deepest sympathies to the wider O'Connor family and community at the appalling killings". |
| He added that it was a "really sad and shocking event and our thoughts are with all concerned". | He added that it was a "really sad and shocking event and our thoughts are with all concerned". |
| The leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin, and the Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh, Michael Router, sent their "heartful sympathy". | The leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin, and the Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh, Michael Router, sent their "heartful sympathy". |
| "This devastating news has shaken the entire local community and, indeed, the whole country," they said in a joint statement. | "This devastating news has shaken the entire local community and, indeed, the whole country," they said in a joint statement. |
| "Words are insufficient to capture the pain and shock of such loss, but we want them to know that they are surrounded by a blanket of prayer at this most difficult time." | "Words are insufficient to capture the pain and shock of such loss, but we want them to know that they are surrounded by a blanket of prayer at this most difficult time." |
| 'Joyful' people who loved animals | 'Joyful' people who loved animals |
| A few years ago, the family adopted a pet dog from the Louth Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). | A few years ago, the family adopted a pet dog from the Louth Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). |
| Fiona Squibb from the organisation got to know the O'Connors personally and described them as "joyful" people who were "selfless" with their time. | Fiona Squibb from the organisation got to know the O'Connors personally and described them as "joyful" people who were "selfless" with their time. |
| "If you're feeling down, meeting them on a bad day was a good thing because they would just up your spirits immediately," she told BBC News NI. | "If you're feeling down, meeting them on a bad day was a good thing because they would just up your spirits immediately," she told BBC News NI. |
| "We're all devastated. They were just such nice people and they were very giving people." | "We're all devastated. They were just such nice people and they were very giving people." |
| Fiona Squibb, from Louth SPCA, said the O'Connors were great supporters of the charity | Fiona Squibb, from Louth SPCA, said the O'Connors were great supporters of the charity |
| Ms Squibb said the couple "were always putting themselves forward for volunteering jobs" and were "great supporters" of their charity. | Ms Squibb said the couple "were always putting themselves forward for volunteering jobs" and were "great supporters" of their charity. |
| She added that Evan loved visiting Louth SPCA and she remembers him "running through the gate and flying down to have a look at all the animals". | She added that Evan loved visiting Louth SPCA and she remembers him "running through the gate and flying down to have a look at all the animals". |
| "His dear love was the animals and I'm sure that came from his mum and his dad." | "His dear love was the animals and I'm sure that came from his mum and his dad." |
| 'An inspiration to us all' | 'An inspiration to us all' |
| North East Runners Dundalk, of which Mr O'Connor was a member, expressed "immense sadness and shock" over the deaths. | North East Runners Dundalk, of which Mr O'Connor was a member, expressed "immense sadness and shock" over the deaths. |
| "His commitment to the sport was an inspiration to us all," the club said, in a statement. | "His commitment to the sport was an inspiration to us all," the club said, in a statement. |
| It added that his "kindness and spirit enriched our entire community" and his family will be "deeply missed by all your club mates". | It added that his "kindness and spirit enriched our entire community" and his family will be "deeply missed by all your club mates". |
| The club said it would be "organising a way for members to come together and support one another in the coming days". | The club said it would be "organising a way for members to come together and support one another in the coming days". |
| The house where the bodies were found is in a very rural location | The house where the bodies were found is in a very rural location |
| Gardaí have set up an incident room at Ardee Garda Station and have appealed for anyone with information about the deaths to contact them. | Gardaí have set up an incident room at Ardee Garda Station and have appealed for anyone with information about the deaths to contact them. |
| They have also appointed a family liaison officer to support relatives of the deceased and keep them informed about the investigation. | They have also appointed a family liaison officer to support relatives of the deceased and keep them informed about the investigation. |