The discovery of three children dead in a house near Dublin city has prompted an investigation by police.
The bodies of two boys and a girl were found in the home in Newcastle, County Dublin.
A woman in her 40s, believed to be their mother, was also taken to Tallaght hospital.
It is understood the three children are all aged under ten, while it was not immediately obvious to officers how the children had died when they attended the scene.
Police have described the deaths as “unexplained” but have stated they are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.
The children were found in a house in Parson’s Court – a small housing development in the village.
Garda forensic officers were continuing to conduct examinations inside the semi-detached house late on Friday night.
One woman in the area said the small community is in “absolute shock” and many attended a local mass service on Saturday morning.
Councillor for the area Emer Higgins described the events as an “unimaginable tragedy”.
“My thoughts are with everybody impacted,” said the Fine Gael representative.
“This is a really tight-knit community, it’s a small area, it’s a quiet area, and it’s just unthinkable that something like this could be happening on our doorstep.
“It’s so tragic. It’s unbelievable that three young people’s lives could be cut short like that, in what seems to be a particularly tragic case.”
An incident room has been set up in Clondalkin Garda Station and gardai have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
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