Three family members found dead at Cork farm after shooting incident

Gardaí have said that three men have been found dead at a home in Kanturk, Co Cork.

According to the Irish Times, the men involved in the shooting are three relatives and it is being treated as an apparent murder-suicide on a farm in north Co Cork.

Detectives believe that one of the sons and his mother returned to the family home after some time away on Sunday night and that this man was later shot in his bedroom. The woman managed to flee the house and went to a neighbour to raise the alarm.

It is understood that the shootings are related to a dispute over a will and the future inheritance of a 150-acre farm that had been simmering recently.

At 6.30am this morning Gardaí in Kanturk were alerted to a firearms incident at a home in the area.

A short time earlier a female, in her 60s, alerted neighbours that firearms had been discharged at her home.

Gardai were informed that three males were present in the house, and that one male may have suffered from gunshot wounds.

Gardaí from Kanturk responded to the scene arriving shortly afterwards and were informed that further gunshots had been heard locally.

Immediately An Garda Siochana initiated its Critical Firearms incident response.

Garda negotiators

The scene of the incident, a family home, was contained by local uniform and plain clothes Gardaí supported by Armed Support Unit.

An Operational Commander was assigned to control the incident supported by Emergency Response Unit, Armed Support Unit, National Negotiator Unit, Technical Support Unit (Garda Headquarters), Southern Region Dog Unit and Air Support Unit.

Throughout the morning Garda negotiators attempted to make contact with those in the house.

After 1pm members of the Emergency Response Unit approached the house and the body of a male in his 20’s, with gunshot wound, was discovered in a bedroom of the house.  No one else was present in the house.

The Garda helicopter began an aerial search of the surrounding lands -- and found two more bodies.

At approximately 1.40pm two further bodies, a male in his late 50s and a male in his 20’s were discovered in adjoining lands.  Preliminary indications indicate both bodies have gunshot wounds.

Gardaí have said the critical incident has now ended, both sites have been declared crime scenes.

A Garda source described the incident as “a terrible tragedy” and they are now appealing for witnesses -- but say they are not looking for any other person in relation to the shooting.

The services of the State Pathologist’s Office as well as Garda technical and ballistics experts have also been requested.

A Garda Family Liaison Officer has been appointed to assist the woman, who was being comforted by friends and neighbours on Monday afternoon.