Man due in court over fatal Edenderry fire

A man is to appear in court in connection with a house fire in which a woman and child died.

Four-year-old Tadgh Farrell and his great-aunt Mary Holt, 60, were killed in the blaze in Castleview Park, Edenderry, on December 6.

Three other men and a teenage boy arrested in connection with the incident this week remain in custody.

Tadgh had been visiting his grandmother and great aunt when the home was attacked shortly before 7.45pm.

The young boy’s grandmother received serious burn injuries in the incident.

The incident in December drew political attention and prompted locals to hold a vigil for the victims.

On Tuesday, gardai 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 were 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.