A man in his twenties remains in custody following the fatal stabbings of an 18-year-old woman and her twin siblings in Tallaght, Dublin.
Lisa Cash, 18, and her eight-year-old brother and sister, Christy and Chelsea Cawley, were attacked and stabbed in the early hours of Sunday morning at their home in Rossfield Avenue.
The mother of the children was uninjured but was taken to hospital for medical treatment. She was released soon after. A 14-year-old boy was also injured in the attack and remains in hospital but his injuries are not life-threatening.
In a statement the Garda said: “This violent, challenging and traumatic incident was responded to by uniform unarmed garda first responders from Tallaght District, supported by uniform members and armed detectives from the wider DMR South Division and Specialist Armed Support Unit members. An Garda Síochána has put in place welfare supports for, and will continue to support, all members who attended this incident.”
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee tweeted: “My thoughts are with the family and the local community as they deal with this unimaginable crime.”
Speaking on RTÉ Principal of St. Aidan’s Community School, Kevin Shortall, said 18-year-old Lisa was “hugely, highly regarded” by school friends and staff.
“We are all just meeting each other and shaking our heads and giving each other hugs. It’s all very difficult this morning.”
Describing Lisa as a “quiet, beautiful young girl, very diligent and hard-working”, he added: “Lisa got on with her work and was a great support to her friends in times of trouble. I heard that from a number of people yesterday.”
Fianna Fáil councillor Theresa Costello told RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, that the tragic events of Sunday morning are one of “darkest days ever seen in Tallaght."
“Even standing in the estate and looking at the house yesterday, it was just a horrible, horrible sight,” she said.
“I don’t think people can process what’s happened.”
She added: “It’s a horrible day for Ireland, not just Tallaght. All we can do is support each other and be the community that we are. There are no words that can make it better.”
