Mum and children killed in harrowing attempted murder-suicide

A woman and her two children were shot dead yesterday in what police believe may have been an attempted murder-suicide.

A man was also found with a serious gunshot wound in the Co. Fermanagh house and was airlifted to Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

The shooting occurred in Drummeer Road, Maguiresbridge, east of Enniskillen. The man is a well-known contractor with a business in Co. Down. The mother, aged in her 40s, and the son and daughter were all shot inside the modern home.

The mother and daughter died at the scene of the shooting. The boy, in his teens, died later yesterday at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen. All three were members of the local St Patrick’s GAA club, where members were yesterday trying to cope with the terrible news.

A murder investigation has been launched and police are probing a triple murder and attempted suicide line of inquiry. Superintendent Robert McGowan said that the suspect in the incident has a ‘limited footprint’ with police.

Speaking in Enniskillen, Supt McGowan said that two people were pronounced dead at the scene and that a third person died in hospital. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it received a 999 call at 8.21am yesterday and dispatched three emergency ambulances to the scene.

Supt McGowan said: ‘Earlier this morning, police received a report of an incident in Maguiresbridge. Officers, along with their colleagues in the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, attended a house in the Drummeer Road area.

‘Tragically, despite best medical efforts, two people were pronounced dead at the scene. Sadly, I can confirm that a third person has this afternoon passed away in hospital. ;The fourth person, who was taken to hospital, remains in a condition described as serious.

‘All four had sustained gunshot wounds and I can confirm that all four individuals are from the same household.’

Supt McGowan said the incident was ongoing when police arrived at the scene. ‘It just happened prior to police attending, so, as you can appreciate, it’s a very harrowing scene for all involved,’ he told reporters.

‘So, not only police officers, but colleagues in the ambulance service, and family members. Without going into detail, it’s a very harrowing scene for anybody to attend.’

He added: ‘There is limited domestic history involving the people concerned and that is certainly one line of inquiry that the detectives will take forward.’

He said the alarm was raised by a phone call made from the house where the incident was taking place. ‘I am keen first and foremost to express my sympathy to the family members and loved ones who are today left in total shock and who will struggle to come to terms with their unimaginable loss,’ he added.

‘Detectives have now commenced a murder investigation and are working at pace to determine the circumstances. This is a quiet rural location and I’m aware that this tragic event will have sent shockwaves of sadness throughout the community.’

The local GAA club said those who died in the tragedy were all ‘active and beloved’ members of the club. ‘St Mary’s Maguiresbridge GFC offer our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those impacted by the tragic incident which happened in our community this morning,’ it said on Facebook.

‘We are working with the GAA at county, provincial and national level, to implement the Association’s critical incident protocols. We will work closely with all appropriate services to ensure that those who require support at this difficult time can access it.’

St Patrick’s GAA club said in a statement: ‘St Patrick’s Hurling Club Lisbellaw offer our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of all those impacted by the tragic incident this morning in Maguiresbridge.

‘All three were active and beloved members of our club and will be desperately missed.’

Speaking at the scene, local MP Pat Cullen said she was ‘shocked to the core’ and ‘heartbroken’ at the incident. ‘It’s such a tragedy to hear that a mother and two wee children have lost their lives here today, and another person seriously injured,’ she said.

‘It’s just devastating news, devastating for the people of Maguiresbridge, a really close-knit community that I have got to know so well over the last year, just people that are the salt of the earth.

‘I’m also thinking of all the wee school friends of those two wee children and what that must feel like for all of them and how the next few days and weeks will be for everyone, particularly just at the beginning of the school holidays.’

She added: ‘I think out of respect for the families alone it is so important that we give space now to the police to carry out their investigation. Speculation doesn’t get us anywhere, it’s time now to come together and wrap ourselves around this community and give them all the care and attention that they need and deserve.’

Local MLA Deborah Erskine said there was ‘a deep sense of shock and distress’ in the ‘closeknit, quiet’ rural community.

‘I know, having spoken to people within the community today, they are shocked, but the foremost thoughts are with the family,’ she said at the scene. ‘This family has had their lives completely and utterly turned upside down within a matter of hours today.’

The North’s First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, said she was ‘absolutely heartbroken’ at the news. ‘My thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and the local community,’ she said on the social media site X.

‘I have no doubt that the people of Maguiresbridge will come together and support one another through this incredibly difficult time.’

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said it was ‘truly devastating’ to hear of ‘this terrible and violent event’, adding: ‘My thoughts at this dreadful time are with the loved ones, family and friends, but most of all for the tragedy of the lives cut off so cruelly. Terrible news,’ she said.

Northern Secretary Hilary Benn said it was a ‘tragic and deeply distressing’ incident. He added: ‘My thoughts are with the victims, their relatives and the local community in Fermanagh. I would urge the public not to speculate and to allow the PSNI to continue their investigation.’

Additional reporting by Jamie McCarron