Mother, father and son from Louth killed in tragic stabbing incident named locally

The family in Louth who were found dead in their home in what was described by Gardaí as a "violent incident" have been named locally.

Mark and Louise O'Connor, who were in their 50s, and their son Evan, who was in his 20s and had additional needs, were found in their home in the townland of Drumgowna/Annaghminnan, which is in between Killanny and Louth Village.

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The three family members were found on Monday morning after the authorities were alerted. It's believed all three had sustained fatal stab wounds. It's also understood that two bodies were discovered inside the property and one was found on the driveway.

A male who is believed to have been known to them was arrested just 1km away from the scene where he was said to be just walking down the road and not running. He is also apparently believed to have told a local "I'm sorry for all the screaming and shouting. It's over now."

The family were found by a care worker who regularly calls to the house who immediately raised the alarm.

In a statement on Monday Gardaí said:

“Gardaí were alerted to a serious incident at a residential property in Tallanstown, Co Louth, this morning, Monday 29th September 2025.

“Three people – two males and one female (all adults) – were found deceased at the scene.

“The scene has been preserved for technical examination. The Offices of the Coroner and the State Pathologist have been notified.

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“A male, aged in his 30s, has been arrested and is currently detained at a station in the Garda North West Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

“Investigations are ongoing.”

Local Fianna Fáil councillor for the mid-Louth area, John Sheridan, was at the scene yesterday and said that the family were well known in the area and were particularly involved in running and sporting circles.

“It’s very sad, I remember calling to them during the local elections and chatting to them and certainly they would have been seen at a lot of community events.

“There’s a huge sense of grief in the Louth Village, Tallanstown, Killanny area. It’s a very remote, very quiet community where everyone knows everyone. It’s very sad for the family involved and there’s a lot of grief in terms of both the family and the community.

“I would appeal at this time for people to be respectful online in relation to that grief and the family, and to acknowledge that there is a Garda investigation ongoing and it’s important to allow the Gardaí to do their work appropriately and for people to not comment on it until Gardaí release the official information.”