Gardaí believe a young boy was violently killed by his own father, who then went on to take his own life.
Oisin O’Reilly (11) was discovered dead at a home in Lindisfarne Grove, Clondalkin, West Dublin on Thursday morning, after gardaí had earlier found his father, Wayne O’Reilly (48), at a separate address in Cherry Orchard, Ballyfermot, reports The Mirror.
Officers were first alerted to the Ballyfermot scene, where Mr O’Reilly was found dead in a shed to the rear of a property. It is believed he died by suicide after leaving the Clondalkin location.
Gardaí were later called to the Clondalkin address, just 15 minutes away, where they found the child’s body, and it is understood the boy died by asphyxiation, reports The Mirror.
Both the father and son had previously been reported missing to gardaí in October last year, prompting a nationwide alert, before they were later located safe and well at that time.
The young boy’s body was removed from the Clondalkin scene in front of stunned and heartbroken neighbours shortly after 3.20pm, while members of the Garda Technical Bureau attended and officers sealed off part of the road outside the house, reports The Mirror.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror at the Ballyfermot scene, a man who described himself as a “good friend” of Wayne O’Reilly spoke of his devastation over the events. The man, who asked not to be named, appeared visibly distressed.
“He was a good friend. I have known him for more than 20 years. We are all shocked and devastated by what has happened.I last spoke to him about two weeks ago. He was in good form. He absolutely doted on (the little boy),” reports The Mirror.
He also said the father was a skilled mechanic who sold cars, and claimed his mental health had deteriorated in recent years. He added: “He was very popular and none of his friends saw this coming at all. Everyone is shocked. Nobody can believe what happened,” reports The Mirror.
Local Clondalkin-based councillor Francis Timmons spoke of the devastation felt throughout the community, particularly among the child’s young friends, reports The Mirror.
“Bawnogue and the wider Clondalkin community are in shock and disbelief to learn of two tragic deaths.My heart and thoughts go out to the families and friends devastated by such an appalling loss. The whole community joins in grief of such unexpected loss. My thoughts are also with the child’s school friends who are in shock and upset by their school friend’s death,” he said, reports The Mirror.
Meanwhile, Ballyfermot councillor Daithi Doolan shared his condolences on social media, saying the news was heartbreaking and extending sympathy to the family and friends affected, reports The Mirror.
Gardaí believe the child died in violent circumstances at the hands of his father, but are awaiting post-mortem results to formally confirm this. The incident is being treated as a murder-suicide, and investigators are not seeking anyone else in connection with the case.
In a statement, gardaí said they are “investigating all of the circumstances surrounding the discovery of two bodies at domestic residences in Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 & Clondalkin, Dublin 22, on Thursday 8th January 2026,” reports The Mirror.
“Gardaí and emergency services were called to a domestic residence in Cherry Orchard, Ballyfermot this morning at approximately 8:30am. A body of a male (aged in his 40s) was discovered deceased at the scene,” they said, reports The Mirror.
“In follow up enquiries the body of a male child was discovered at a domestic residence in Clondalkin. Both locations have been preserved for forensic examination by the Garda Technical Bureau,” reports The Mirror.
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