A young Irish mum was found dead with her seven-year-old son in a suspected “murder-suicide”.
The bodies of Sinéad Higgins and her son Oisin were found at their home in Ruislip, west London, on Wednesday morning after concerns were raised about their welfare.
Ms Higgins, 37, was from Aughagower in Westport, Co Mayo, and was living in London for over 11 years. She was working as a nurse and a legal advisor.
It is the third tragedy to hit the family, who are known to Taoiseach Enda Kenny. Sinéad’s younger brother Cathal died in a motorcycle accident 12 years ago, and two years ago, she lost her dad Tom to cancer.
It emerged on Thursday that Sinéad had posted a series of haunting messages on social media before her death.
Last Friday Sinéad tweeted “the future looks very” followed by an emoji of a tornado.
Another disturbing message read: “You’ve heard what I’ve done, not what I’ve been through. If you were in my shoes, you’d fall at the first step.”
Speaking in Brussels last night, Taoiseach Enda Kenny commented on the tragedy saying:
“I’m very sorry, I’m shocked actually. I know that family very well, and it’s a particular tragedy for that family, a very large family I know so well.
When I got that message here in Brussels, I have to say it went through me because an incident or a tragedy like this leaves you in a state of understanding that people face difficulties in their lives that you would never contemplate.”