Murder investigation after mum finds daughter and dad dead at home

A father is suspected of having strangled his six-year-old daughter before taking his own life in a horrifying murder-suicide.

The shocking discovery was made by the child's mother at their home on Heathfield Terrace in Cappoge near Finglas, Ireland, on Saturday night. The dad, a bus driver in his 30s, was found near the stairs while his little girl was discovered in her bedroom.

Neighbours have spoken of hearing the mother's heart-wrenching scream and her call to Dublin Fire Brigade, ambulance crews and police officers (Gardaí) who arrived at the scene around 8pm.

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Gardaí believe the tragic youngster was strangled and that the father then ended his own life, reports Belfast Live. They do not suspect any break-in or third-party involvement.

It's feared the father and daughter may have lain dead for several hours before the mother returned home and stumbled upon the horrific scene.

The bodies were removed from the house around midday on Sunday for post-mortem examinations, which will guide the course of the investigation. The tragedy unfolded in a quiet estate, directly opposite a children's playground where locals often saw the young girl and her father.

Residents expressed their shock at the devastating event. One local revealed how a neighbour heard the mother's anguished cry.

"She came out to a horrible scream. It was the mother. She'd just come home from work and found them," they said.

Other residents spoke of the heartbreak of having to explain what had occurred to their children, many of whom played with the little girl in the playground.

"It's very hard. Like we don't know what to be telling our children. It's just horrific," one local woman said. "Word filtered through but I kind of don't think the gravity of it hit until the searches and all were going on this morning," they added.

"It's just the kids now that we are trying to protect from it. My two girls are the same age as that little one. So it's shocking. They would know her to see her in the playground. We'd always say hello to the family. My girls thought there was a movie being recorded this morning because of the cameras so I just said yeah that's right."

Another neighbour added: "It's very sad. You don't know what you're going to do. We've a lot of kids as you can see there in the playground. It's really sad. Such a quiet neighbourhood up here. You don't hear a dickie bird up here.

"They're such a quiet family. People have their thoughts on it. I have my own but no matter what it's a tragedy. They're a lovely very quiet family and kept to themselves. Just one child between the two of them."

A local woman recounted the chilling moment she saw a fire engine racing into her estate, instantly realising something was amiss. "I was up in my room and I saw the fire truck came in. I knew by the way they ran out that it was something serious.

"There were four ambulances, two fire vans, the engine and then the guards. I knew once the ambulances were leaving I thought oh this is not good, they're not bringing anyone out. But I still wouldn't have imagined anything like that."

Residents spoke of how the father of the child was often seen with her on the street - and how the grandmother had just left the home days before the tragedy - after staying with the family all summer.

"He (the father) spent all summer teaching her to go on her bike without stabilisers.

"You'd see him in the middle of the road holding traffic and you're like: 'Get off the road.' The grandmother was there all summer. She has been all summer. You would always see her going up and down the road with the little girl," a neighbour said.

Gardaí have set up an incident room and are awaiting the results of a post mortem before deciding the next steps in their investigation. However, officers are preparing for a potential murder investigation in this heartbreaking case.

On Saturday night, Gardaí announced they are "investigating all the circumstances surrounding" the discovery of the two bodies.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Gardaí said: "Gardaí are investigating all the circumstances surrounding the discovery of two bodies at a domestic residence in Finglas, Dublin, on Saturday, 27 September, 2025.

"Gardaí and emergency services were called to the residence in the Cappagh area shortly before 8pm. The location has been preserved for forensic examination by the Garda Technical Bureau.

"The Coroner has been notified and the services of the Office of the State Pathologist have been requested. No further information is available at this time."