Officers were called to a property on the Rossfield estate in Tallaght at around 12.30pm today. Lisa Cash, 18, and her younger brother and sister Christy and Chelsea Cawley were found injured at the scene and taken to Children’s Health Ireland in Crumlin. All three were later pronounced dead, police said. Their mother, a woman in her forties, has now been released from hospital and is in the care of her family. Her 14-year-old son remains in University Hospital Tallaght, where he is being treated for serious but non-life threatening injuries. Gardai described it as a “violent, provocative and traumatic incident” and said all those involved were believed to be known to each other. A man, aged in his twenties, who was arrested at the scene, continues to be questioned by police. Officers used “less-than-lethal” devices to arrest the man, the force said. Medical examiners rushed to the scene and removed various items, including a shoe, a small bag and a black coat. Autopsies are to be carried out by State Coroner Dr Sally Anne Collis. Fianna Fail councilor Charlie O’Connor, who was at the scene on Sunday morning, said there was widespread shock in the community. Lisa Cash, 18, died along with her siblings in the violent incident (Garda) “I don’t know how to describe it. I was getting calls from early in the morning with people bringing it up to me,” Mr O’Connor said. “People are just now starting to come out of their homes. I was at the Catholic church a while ago and a lot of people hadn’t heard about it, but the news was getting out. “There is deep shock. People are really, really upset. Any event like this would come as a shock, but the fact that it involves children is a truly shocking event for this community, and indeed for the wider community of Tallaght and elsewhere. This will affect many, many people. “I was speaking to the gardai and they told me that their colleagues who were there last night were all deeply shocked. Christy and Chelsea Cawley died in the violent incident (Garda) “It’s awful. We have to think about the family, their neighbors, the wider community. “Efforts are being made to support the local community and the local Brookfield Youth and Community Center have just confirmed to me that they are now opening for the rest of the day. “People are welcome to come and mourn and have a cup of tea and talk about their grief. “I really find it shocking to think that three children of this age are no longer with us and will not be going to school in the morning.” Flowers have been left at the scene. A floral tribute said: “Fly high little angels. Our hearts are broken for all of you.” Additional report from PA
