The suspected killer of three family members in Co Louth, Ireland, reportedly left the scene with his hands covered in blood before making the shocking comment
A suspected triple murderer chillingly told a local he was “sorry for all the screaming” after allegedly stabbing three family members to death.
The man is said to have emerged from a property in the small rural town with his hands “covered in blood,” before approaching the resident. Police yesterday revealed that the three victims were found fatally injured in a violent attack, leaving the otherwise peaceful community shocked and devastated.
They were later named as married couple Mark and Louise O’Connor, in their 50s, and their son Evan, who was in his 20s. Officers confirmed a man, aged in his 30s, was arrested and taken into custody.
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The suspected killer reportedly left the scene in Tallanstown in Co Louth, Ireland, and approached a local, telling them: “I’m sorry for all the screaming and shouting. It’s over now,” according to the Irish Independent. His hands were also said to be covered in blood, but his clothes were clean, which led gardaí to believe he changed them after the killings.
Ireland’s Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan confirmed gardaí – Irish police – were not looking for anyone else for questioning, and said there was no further threat to the public following the “criminal act”. Police and forensic officers flooded the scene on Monday afternoon, which was sealed off as technical examinations were carried out.
In a statement, gardaí said officers responded to a call to attend a residential property shortly before 10am. “Three people – two males and one female [all adults] – were found deceased at the scene,” they said. “The scene has been preserved for technical examination. The offices of the coroner and the state pathologist have been notified. A male, aged in his 30s, has been arrested and is currently detained at a station in the Garda North West Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.”
Stunned neighbours meanwhile expressed their sorrow and “disbelief” over the deaths. One described Mr O’Connor as a “lovely fella” and said the whole community is “devastated” after the tragedy. The unnamed local told the Irish Mirror: “We are just all devastated. The dad was such a lovely fella.
“You’d see him running on the roads every morning. He even completed the Boston marathon earlier this year. The mother was also a lovely woman, she worked as a nurse and the son who was also killed was a lovely lad.” They added: “It’s just so shocking and sad.”
Another devastated neighbour, who lives close by the family home, said he only heard of the shocking tragedy when another neighbour rang him to see why there was an ambulance along the road. The neighbour, who does not want to be identified said: “Then I looked out the window around 9.30am and saw the ambulance. Everyone is numb and in shock. Some other neighbours told me they heard shouting last night.”
The O’Connor family were described as being well known and well liked, and had taken part in local community and sporting events, according to a local councillor. “The family is a well known family in the area and have been involved in sports and the local community,” Local councillor John Sheridan said. “They are a well-liked family. I would have known them through the local community and sporting events.
“The property is between three small villages in Co Louth – Stonestown, Louth Village and Tallanstown so all three communities are very distressed and very shocked,” he said. “Word started to filter through the villages around 10am this morning when emergency services came from Dundalk. This is the first time something shocking like this has happened in this quiet and peaceful area. There is a huge degree of shock and sadness in the area.”
Gardai said the remains of the deceased had been removed from the scene and taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, where post-mortem examinations will be carried out today.