Irish police are investigating a suspected murder-suicide after the bodies of a man and an 11-year-old boy were discovered at two separate domestic residences in west Dublin on Thursday, 8th January 2026.
Emergency Response and Initial Discovery
Gardaí and emergency services were first called to a house in the Cherry Orchard area of Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, at approximately 8:30am. Upon arrival, they discovered the body of a man, understood to be 48 years old, inside the property. Initial reports suggest the man's body was found in a shed to the rear of the home.
Second Tragic Discovery in Clondalkin
As part of their immediate follow-up inquiries into the initial incident, officers made a second, deeply distressing discovery. The body of a male child, aged 11, was found at a domestic residence in Clondalkin, Dublin 22. The two locations are within the wider west Dublin region.
Forensic Investigation Underway
Both scenes have been sealed off and preserved for a detailed forensic examination, which will be conducted by the Garda Technical Bureau. The Office of the State Pathologist has been requested to assist, and the local coroner has been notified.
The body of the adult male was removed to the city morgue. The body of the child remained at the scene pending formal procedures. Post-mortem examinations are due to be arranged, the results of which will be crucial in determining the precise course of the investigation.
A senior investigating officer is overseeing the case, which is being treated with the utmost seriousness. Gardaí have appealed for privacy for the families of the deceased during this traumatic time and have not released further details regarding the relationship between the man and the boy, pending the outcome of their inquiries.
In an official statement, An Garda Síochána said: "Gardaí are investigating all of the circumstances surrounding the discovery of two bodies at domestic residences in Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 & Clondalkin, Dublin 22, on Thursday 8th January 2026." The investigation remains ongoing.
