Fifth man (20s) arrested over fatal Edenderry fire
By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association
A man in his 20s has been arrested as part of an investigation into the fatal house fire in Co Offaly in which a woman and child died.
He is the fifth person to be arrested this week in connection with the blaze in which four-year-old Tadhg Farrell and his great aunt Mary Holt were killed in Castleview Park, Edenderry, on December 6th.
The young boy’s grandmother received serious burn injuries in the incident.
On Tuesday, gardaí said they had arrested three men – two aged in their 20s and one in his 30s.
Later that evening, they said they had also arrested a teenage boy.
On Thursday morning, they said the fifth arrest – of a man aged in his 20s – occurred on Wednesday evening.
All five are detained at garda stations in the east and the midlands under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007.
People arrested under Section 50 can be held for up to 48 hours under extensions authorised by a superintendent and chief superintendent, and for up to a total of seven days if two extensions are sought from and granted by the District or Circuit Courts.
A garda spokesperson said: “Investigations are ongoing.”
The child had been visiting his grandmother and great aunt when the home was attacked shortly before 7.45pm.
Investigators previously released CCTV footage of the attack that appeared to show two hooded individuals smashing a window before setting an object on fire and throwing it into the property.
The incident in December drew political attention and prompted locals to hold a vigil for the victims.
