The families of the couple and two children who died in their Wexford home on Saturday today asked for privacy to grieve.
Postmortems on the four bodies are set to continue this morning but gardaí have ruled out third-party involvement in the deaths of Diarmuid Flood (41), wife Lorraine (38), and children Mark (6) and Julie (5). Detectives are working on the theory that the deaths were the result of a murder-suicide.
Ms Flood's body was found in bed in the couple's upstairs bedroom and her husband in one of the reception rooms downstairs. Julie was found in her bed, while Mark was on the landing of the house.
A legally held shotgun, owned by a third party, was found at the scene. The weapon was lent to Mr Flood some years ago and kept in his house. The licence was maintained by the original owner.
Mr Flood's remains and those of his son had sustained burn injuries. However, the remains of Ms Flood and her daughter were almost untouched by the fire.
Denis Kennedy, read a statement on behalf of both families this morning appealing for space to mourn their loss.
“In the light of the recent events with much sorrow in our hearts we the bereaved families ask to be afforded the privacy to mourn and cherish our dearly departed,” the statement said.
“We ask the media to understand our wishes to be allowed the dignity to put to rest our loved ones without undue attention and speculation.
“We urge the media, our wider community and the nation to understand how deeply we have been affected by his tragedy and realise that Diarmuid and Lorraine were children to their parents and Mark and Julie were grandchildren to their grandparents, siblings to their siblings and loved by all who knew them.”
Postmortems and the Garda's technical examination of the scene had to be suspended yesterday after asbestos, believed to be from roof tiles, was found in the Flood family's burnt home in Clonroche.
Deputy State Pathologist Dr Declan Gilsenan carried out a preliminary examination of the scene. The bodies were removed from the house yesterday evening.
The postmortems are resuming this morning at the Dublin City Morgue in Marino. Gardaí have also obtained breathing apparatus to resume their inspection of the house today.
Prayers were said for the family and their relatives at Sunday Mass in the local St Clement's Catholic Church in Cloughbawn. Fr Richard Redmond said the deaths had given the community "heavy hearts and a great sense of sadness".
