Three family members have been found dead with gunshot wounds in a suspected murder-suicide in Co Kerry.
Gardaí called to a home in Listowel yesterday evening discovered the bodies of a woman in her 60s and her son, in his 20s, inside the property.
The body of a man in his 60s was found outside, at the rear of the dwelling.
All three had gunshot wounds, and a firearm was recovered at the scene.
An Garda Siochána said they are not seeking any other person in relation to the incident.
The State Pathologist and the Garda Technical Bureau have been contacted, and the scene has been preserved as investigations continue.
Justice Minister Heather Humphreys said: “My deepest sympathies to all impacted by the truly awful tragedy in Lixnaw.
“The shock and devastation being felt by the family and the community is unimaginable.
“An Garda Siochána is engaging with the local community and will carry out a full investigation.”
Parish priest of Lixnaw, Fr Anthony O'Sullivan, said the local community is "numb".
He was called to the scene at the family bungalow shortly before 11pm last night, where he administered the last rites and said prayers.
"There is a great sense of numbness and disbelief that this has happened," Fr O'Sullivan told Newstalk.
"Personally I feel the same way, numb and failing to comprehend or express how I feel about what has happened."
He added: "I am here nearly two years and met one of them briefly. It's a very caring parish with caring people."
Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae said: "The community is shocked and deeply saddened at the events that unfolded last night in Lixnaw. It's a very quiet place and a very close-knit community and everyone is devastated at what happened.
"No-one can comprehend, no-one can understand, and we are deeply upset by what happened.
"Unfortunately tragedies like these are becoming are more common.
"In a community where everybody knows everybody, the first reaction is how could this happen and why did this happen?
"I think that now is not the time for those questions. I think now is the time to be supportive of the family and their friends of the bereaved people, and that is our job now to support them in their time of need and distress.
"That is what we will be doing.
"They have lived in the area for a long time and we want to support the bereaved people in whatever way we can."
