Tragic Discovery in Dublin Suburbs
A father and his young son have been found dead in separate locations in West Dublin in what Gardai suspect is a tragic murder-suicide. The bodies of Wayne O'Reilly, 48, and his 11-year-old son, Oisin O'Reilly, were discovered on the morning of Thursday, 8th January 2026, sending shockwaves through the local communities.
Sequence of a Tragedy
The grim series of events began when emergency services were called to a property in Cherry Orchard, Ballyfermot, at approximately 8:30am. There, they discovered the body of Wayne O'Reilly in a shed at the rear of a residence. It is suspected he died by suicide.
Following urgent enquiries, Gardai travelled to an address just 15 minutes away, on Lindisfarne Grove in Clondalkin. There, they made the heartbreaking discovery of Oisin's body. Preliminary indications suggest the child died from asphyxiation. The boy's remains were removed from the scene at around 3:20pm, witnessed by distraught neighbours.
A Community in Mourning
The local community has been left reeling by the devastating news. A close friend of Wayne O'Reilly, who spoke anonymously at the Ballyfermot scene, described him as a skilled mechanic who ran a car sales business. "He was a good friend. I have known him for more than 20 years," the friend said. "We are all shocked and devastated. He absolutely doted on the little boy."
The friend also revealed that Wayne's mental health had deteriorated in recent years, but added, "none of his friends saw this coming at all."
Local representatives expressed profound sorrow. Clondalkin Councillor Francis Timmons stated, "Bawnogue and the wider Clondalkin community are in shock and disbelief." He extended his thoughts to the child's school friends struggling to comprehend the loss. Ballyfermot Councillor Daithi Doolan also shared his condolences online, calling the news "heartbreaking."
Ongoing Garda Investigation
Gardai have confirmed they are investigating all circumstances surrounding the two deaths. Both scenes have been preserved for forensic examination by the Garda Technical Bureau. The State Pathologist has been notified, and post-mortem examinations will be conducted to determine the exact causes of death.
In a poignant detail, it has emerged that both father and son were reported missing to Gardai in October of the previous year, triggering a nationwide alert before they were later found safe.
The investigation is being treated as a suspected murder-suicide, and officers are not seeking anyone else in connection with the incident. A Senior Investigating Officer is overseeing the case as the community seeks answers amidst overwhelming grief.
