9-year-old twins found dead, brothers murder suicide shocks small Cork town

The bodies of nine-year-old twins, Tom and Paddy O’Driscoll, were discovered at their home in the North Cork town of Charleville, on Thursday.

The body of their 21-year-old brother, Jonathan, was discovered on a riverbank 10 miles away. Police believe it was a double murder suicide.

The parents of the boys had gone to town on a shopping trip and left the boys in the care of the older boy, at their home in Deerpark in Charleville.

He allegedly stabbed both of them to death before taking his own life.

The bodies of the the twins were discovered at the family home at 5pm by another young sibling. He shouted for his neighbors help upon the discovery and the police were alerted.

The older brother, Jonathan, who is believed to have carried out the murder suicide had collected the nine-year-old twins from school.

Following the grim discovery of the twin’s bodies a major search was carried out through north Cork for his car, a black Toyota Corolla. Police found Jonathan’s body at 7pm by the Awbeg river in the ruins of Buttevant Castle on the outskirts of Buttevant.

Foul play is not suspected in his death and the police are not understood to be looking for anybody else in connection with the deaths.

Police removed two knives from the river near to where Jonathan was found. They are being examined to establish if they were used as the murder weapons.

On Thursday night a prayer vigil was lead by local curate, Father Tom Naughton outside the O’Driscoll family home. The twin’s parents, Tom and Helen O’Driscoll, along with their daughter and two younger sons, were comforted by friends and family.

Labour Party councilor Noel McCarthy told Independent.ie that “It’s a huge shock and very, very sad.
"Any tragedy like this is terrible, but you never think it is going to happen in your area. People will be shocked and very upset.”