Gardaí investigating the deaths of four people, including two children, in Newcastle West, Co Limerick have arrested a man.
The two women and two children, a three-year old boy and a five-month old girl, were found dead in a house Hazel Grove Estate, Gortboy, Newcastle West at about 1.35pm. The four victims are understood to have been stabbed.
Gardaí said earlier they were attempting to trace a man suspected of being involved in the incident. The suspect was married to one of the women. The bodies of the two children were found upstairs in the house while the adults were discovered downstairs.
The area has been sealed off pending a forensic examination. A Garda spokesman said all four bodies are still at the scene and the State Pathologist's Office had been alerted.
The man (31) arrested this afternoon is currently being held at Henry Street Garda station in Limerick city under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
The parish priest for Newcastle West Fr Frank Duhig said the event had come as an awful shock to members of the community.
"It hasn't sunk in yet and people don't know a huge amount about it yet. The scene is still cordoned off and no names are being passed around," he added.
Fine Gael councillor for Newcastle West Patrick O'Donovan said the community was "absolutely shell-shocked over the tragedy, especially given today's earlier tragedy in Co Cork."
He said the estate in which today's incident happened was long-established and that it was a very tightly-knit community.
Cllr Richard Butler, Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council, said: “No words can adequately describe the tragedy that has befallen the people of Newcastle West today.
"Today is a black day for the people of Newcastle West and I would call on the people of County Limerick and indeed, the rest of the country to pray for the loved ones of those whose lives have been so tragically cut short."
"Newcastle West is a close knit community that works together in making the town a great place to live, work and visit. The community is in a state of shock and disbelief at this tragedy," he said.
"On behalf of the people of Limerick, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives in the town today.”