Gardai are still waiting to question the father of two young brothers who were beaten and stabbed to death along with their mother at their home in Castledaly, Co Westmeath, at the weekend.
Mr Greg Fox (32) is recovering from injuries in hospital in Ballinasloe, Co Galway. He was found unconscious near the bodies of his sons, Trevor (9) and Killian (7), and their mother, Ms Debbie Fox (30).
The three were beaten with a hurley stick before being stabbed. Neighbours found the bodies at the Fox family home on Saturday morning.
Gardai who arrived at the scene described it as horrific.
They said Ms Fox and her sons were killed late on Friday night. Ms Fox is believed to have died from head injuries inflicted with the hurley and her sons were stabbed repeatedly.
Mr Fox, who is described as comfortable in hospital, appears to have a single stab wound. He was also treated for a suspected drugs overdose.
The deaths of the two boys follow an extraordinary level of "non-accidental" child fatalities in the Republic.
In all 15 children have been killed in the past two years. The incidence of killing of children has become one of the most prominent forms of homicide in this State and is being examined by a number of medical authorities.
The killing of children is recognised in England and elsewhere as a significant category of homicide, and social services and courts are beginning to reappraise their attitudes.
Infants from only a few months up to pre-teenage have died as a result of non-accidental violent incidents the past two years in this State.