BREAKING: Man arrested over fatal Edenderry house fire which killed boy and his grandaunt

A man in his late 20's has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the fatal house fire which killed a young boy and his grandaunt in Edenderry last month. 

Four-year-old Tadhg Farrell and his grandaunt, sixty-year-old Mary Holt died in the house fire which was caused by a petrol bomb.

Tadgh’s grandmother, Pauline Holt, was also in the house when the attack occurred and managed to escape the blaze but suffered serious injuries. 

The incident happened shortly before 7:45pm at Castleview Park in Edenderry on the evening of December 6.

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In an update issued on Wednesday afternoon, a Garda spokesperson has said: "As part of this investigation, a man in his late 20s was arrested this morning, 14th January 2026."

Their statement continued: "He is currently detained on suspicion of murder under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in the midlands."

Gardaí have also confirmed that the investigations into the deaths of Tadhg Farrell and Mary Holt are ongoing.