Emergency services, including Offaly Fire and Rescue Service, National Ambulance Service and Gardaí responded to a fire at a house in Castleview Park in Edenderry shortly before 7.45pm.
The fire was put out and the remains of two persons, a woman aged 60 and a 4-year-old boy, were discovered.
A second woman, aged in her 50s, was taken from the scene and is receiving hospital treatment for serious injuries.
A Garda spokesperson said: An Garda Síochána has commenced a murder investigation into 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 December 6, 2025.
“The house has been declared a crime scene and is currently subject to technical examination by the Garda Technical Bureau.
“The office of the Local Coroner and the State Pathologist have been notified.
“The remains of both deceased have been removed from the scene and post mortems will be carried out by the Assistant State Pathologist Margot Bolster at the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore, commencing this afternoon.
“This murder investigation is being coordinated from an incident room at Tullamore Garda Station under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer.
“A Family Liaison Officer has been appointed to the families.
“An Garda Síochána believes that the house was attacked by a person or persons unknown at this time, and that the fire was deliberately started. This was a reckless, callous and murderous attack on a family home.”
Local councillor for Edenderry, Claire Murray-Smale, described the incident as a “horrific tragedy”.
The scene of a house fire in Edenderry, Co Offaly, where a woman and a young boy have died. Another woman is currently being treated in hospital following the blaze at the domestic residence on Saturday evening. Photo: Aisling Hyland/PA Wire
Today’s News in 90 Seconds – Sunday December 7
Local councillor for Edenderry, Claire Murray-Smale, described the incident as a “horrific tragedy”.
The Fianna Fáil councillor told the Irish Independent: “I would just like to offer my deepest condolences to all involved in what can be described as a horrific tragedy.
“Thanks also to the emergency services who attended the scene.
“The community will feel this loss for evermore.”
The spokesperson added: “Gardaí in Offaly are appealing for any person with any information on this fatal incident to speak with investigating Gardaí.
“Gardaí want to speak with any person who was in the vicinity of Castleview Park, or adjoining roads between 7.00pm and 8.00pm, yesterday Saturday 6th December 2025 to speak with investigating Gardaí.
“Gardaí want to speak with any person who was driving in the vicinity of Castleview Park, or adjoining roads between 7.00pm and 8.00pm, yesterday Saturday 6th December 2025 and who may have any dashcam video footage or images to contact investigating Gardaí.
“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.”
