THE main suspect in the horrific murders of three young siblings near Dublin had previously been investigated for attacking a member of the children’s family.
The 24-year-old man, who was still being questioned by Gardaí last night, is also believed to have made threats against the family in the past.
More details emerged yesterday about the tragic deaths of Lisa Cash (18) and her eight-year-old twin siblings Christy and Chelsea Cawley, who were murdered in their home in Tallaght on Sunday.
All three are believed to have been stabbed to death at their home in Rossfield estate at around 12.30am.
It is now believed the twins were thrown from an upstairs window of the property after they were repeatedly stabbed. It has also been reported their teenage sister was found at the bottom of the stairs after gardaí entered the property.
Neighbours have told how they heard screaming coming from the house and a female voice shouting "help me, help me" along with the sound of smashing windows.
The suspect later hid in an attic, but was taken from the property after gardaí used non-lethal devices to subdue him.
It was reported last night that the suspect was previously investigated for attacking a member of the children’s family, but was not convicted, and he is believed to have made threats against them.
The victims' 14-year-old brother is thought to have jumped from an upstairs window of the property to escape the frenzied knife attack.
He was taken to hospital and is being treated for serious but non-life threatening injuries.
The childrens' mother, aged in her 40s, was also hospitalised before being released and is now being supported by relatives.
The harrowing details of the triple murder have shocked the public and experienced investigators.
Floral and other tributes have been left at the murder scene including a poster bearing pictures of the dead and the words "our three angels". Dozens of pink and blue balloons were also released by family and friends of the dead siblings last night.
Kevin Shortall, principal of St Aidan's Community School, paid tribute to Lisa Cash.
"She is remembered as one of the most honest, genuine young people, full of integrity and no fuss, no drama around her," he told RTÉ.
"Got about her business and was hugely, highly regarded and very warmly remembered by so many staff members here in the school."
Parish priest Fr Bill O'Shaughnessy of St Aidan's Church said "the fact that three young people were taken in such a violent manner is nothing short of shocking".
"We're very much a parish and an area at the moment which is suffering in terms of trying to understand and reeling from the shock, particularly the neighbours - it's extraordinary," he said.
Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris said the killings have "numbed the nation".
"Our hearts and thoughts and our prayers go to the family, to their poor mum and the 14-year-old boy, to all their neighbours, all their friends, to the schoolchildren going back to school today, where there'll be two empty desks where beautiful twins only returned to school in recent days," he said.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris last night said the incident is "one of the worst incidents that I have heard of or come across in my service".
