A ‘well known’ couple and their son were stabbed to death in a frenzied attack at their home before the suspected killer told a neighbour: ‘Sorry for all the screaming and shouting. It’s over now.’
Mark O’Connor, 54, his wife Louise, 56, and their 27-year-old son, Evan, were killed in the early hours of Monday morning at their house in Drumgowna, County Louth, Ireland.
A care worker who often visited the family made the grim discovery just before 10am.
Mark was found in a pool of blood at the gate, Evan was lying on the ground outside at the side of the property, and Louise was discovered inside the house.
Gardai later arrested a 31-year-old man, who was known to the victims, about a kilometre away.
A source said: ‘He was just walking along the road, he wasn’t running or trying to evade gardai.’
It is alleged that his hands were covered in blood, but his clothes looked clean, leading officers to believe he had changed after the killings. According to the Irish Independent, it is understood that after leaving the scene he told a local: ‘I’m sorry for all the screaming and shouting. It’s over now.’
It is thought that Mark and Evan tried to get away in search of help but were fatally attacked before they could escape.
Post-mortems are being carried out at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda to confirm the cause and time of their deaths.
The suspect is being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. Gardai officers confirmed they are not looking for anyone else.
Louise O’Connor, pictured with her husband Mark and their son Evan. The family were killed in a frenzied attack at their home on Monday
Members of their community paid moving tributes to the family. Police have now arrested a 31-year-old man in connection with the murders
Just days before their deaths, Mark and Louise had celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary.
On September 12, Mark posted a photograph of their wedding day in 1992, writing: ‘There I am with Louise Doherty O’Connor 33 years ago today. Still very much in love.’
He had also written: ‘I am blessed to have been married to the wonderful Louise Doherty O’Connor all these years.’
The couple recently celebrated paying off the mortgage on their home. Mark’s Facebook page was filled with his running achievements and affectionate selfies with Louise. Friends said they were a devoted couple and doting parents to Evan.
Garda Superintendent Andrew Watters said: ‘The O’Connor family are a very well-known and respected family. They are good neighbours and an integral part of their local community in Drumgowna and the wider area of Louth and Monaghan.’
Mark worked as a regional manager at the National Advocacy Service for people with disabilities and was a board member of Autism Support Louth and Meath.
Louise was a nurse and also taught Ukrainian refugees English, while Evan, who was autistic, lived at home with them.
Evan had attended Drogheda ABACAS Special School for 14 years, where his parents were key campaigners who helped establish the facility.
It is thought Mark and Evan attempted to escape in order to get help before the attacker turned on them
In a tribute posted online, the school said: ‘Both Mark and Louise were passionate advocates for their son Evan and for all autistic people.
‘Mark was a board member of Autism Support Louth & Meath and was a professional advocate for the rights of people with disabilities in his career.
‘Both Mark and Louise were instrumental in the setting up of Drogheda Abacas and many, many families owe them a debt of gratitude. They campaigned, lobbied and fund-raised for the school and youth clubs and will always be remembered for their legacy to Abacas and to autistic people.’
The murders have left the local community in shock. Dozens of people attended morning Mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Louth village on Tuesday.
According to the Irish Independent, Parish priest V. Rev Sijo John said: ‘We are really sad to hear of the death of Mark, Louise and Evan. Our community is in deep sorrow. Let us bring their souls into the mercy of God.
‘We are waiting on details of the funeral. Let us bring their souls into our hearts.’
One woman leaving the service said: ‘This is a small and tight-knit community. We are all shocked to our core. You don’t expect something like this on your own doorstep.’
Neighbours described the family as kind and gentle. One told the Irish Mirror: ‘We are just all devastated. The dad was such a lovely fella. You’d see him running on the roads every morning.
‘He even completed the Boston Marathon earlier this year. The mother was also a lovely woman, she worked as a nurse, and the son, who was also killed, was a lovely lad. It’s just so shocking and sad.’
A neighbour said: ‘We are just all devastated. The dad was such a lovely fella… The mother was also a lovely woman, she worked as a nurse, and the son… was a lovely lad. It’s just so shocking and sad.
Just days before the killings, Mark had written a touching tribute to his wife as they celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary
Councillor John Sheridan said: ‘The [family’s] property is between three small villages in Co Louth – Stonestown, Louth Village and Tallanstown, so all three communities are very distressed and very shocked.
‘Word started to filter through the villages around 10am this morning when emergency services came from Dundalk.
‘This is the first time something shocking like this has happened in this quiet and peaceful area. There is a huge degree of shock and sadness in the area.’
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .