These are the first pictures of the tragic twins and their older sister who were stabbed to death in Tallaght, Dublin overnight.
Eight-year-old twins Chelsea and Christy Cawley and their older sister Lisa Cash, 18, were stabbed to death by a 25-year-old man at their family home in Rossfield Avenue in Jobstown in the early hours of Sunday morning.
A garda spokesperson said in a fresh update this evening: "Gardaí in Tallaght continue to investigate all the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Lisa Cash Christy and Chelsea Cawley at a residence in Rossfield Estate, Tallaght, on Sunday.
"Their mother, a woman in her 40s, has been released from hospital and is currently being supported by her family. The Family Liaison Officer continues to keep her updated as to the course of this investigation.
"Their brother, 14, remains in Tallaght University Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.
"The scene remains preserved for a forensic examination by the Garda Technical Bureau.
"Post mortems will take place on the bodies of the deceased this afternoon and tomorrow by State Pathologist Dr Sally Anne Collis.
"The male in his early 20s arrested at the scene continues to be detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at Tallaght Garda Station."
The horrific scenes were witnessed by several locals, who described it as “shocking.”
One man told the Irish Mirror how he heard screaming coming from the house and a female shouting “help me, help me.”
A window in the upstairs bedroom of the home was also smashed in during the incident.
Speaking from the scene this morning local Fianna Fail councillor Charlie O'Connor said the community was shocked by what happened.
"I started getting calls early this morning and picked up what was going.
"I was deeply shocked, the community is shocked, we have to obviously think of the family and sympathise with the family, and hope they get all the support they need.
"I understand gardaí on the scene are also deeply shocked as you'd expect.
"Not only here in Rossfield but the wider Tallaght area, this is a real terrible tragedy."
Gardaí in Tallaght have established an Incident room and all the circumstances of this incident are being investigated under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer.
The scene in Rossfield Estate remains sealed off and a Forensic Examination will commence later today by the Garda Technical Bureau.
The Coroner’s Office and the Office of the State Pathologist have been informed and post mortem date due to be arranged.
In a statement gardai said the family will be appointed a liaison officer for support.
They also commented on the violent nature of the incident.
“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,” the force said.
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