A woman whose body was discovered at a house in Bray on Wednesday morning was a survivor of the Carrickmines Traveller site fire in October 2015, which claimed ten lives.
Her partner Jamie McGinn’s remains were also discovered at their home at the Cois Cairn estate on Old Connaught Avenue in north Bray.
Bridget “Biddy” O’Brien, who grew up in Bray, was left with severe burns in the blaze and spent a long period in intensive care. She was unable to attend the funerals of her two children or of two other relatives killed in the fire, and did not find out that her children had died until around six weeks afterwards. She was close to the Lynch and Gilbert families of Fassaroe, Bray, who lost ten relatives in the tragedy.
Gardaí were called to the property at Cois Cairn, Old Connaught Avenue, where two bodies were found shortly after 8 am. Both Biddy and Jamie were pronounced dead at the scene.
Gript understands that Jamie McGinn was found outside the house with visible injuries, while Ms O’Brien was found in an upstairs bedroom.
Investigating Gardaí believe violence played a part in what led to the deaths, though they have found no evidence so far that anyone else was present or involved.
The investigation is still in its early stages, with postmortem results and a forensic examination of the house expected to establish how the pair died and shape the direction of the inquiry. Homicide investigation resources have been assigned to the case.
In a statement, Gardaí said, “The scene has been preserved for examination by the Garda Technical Bureau. The local coroner and the Office of the State Pathologist have been notified, and postmortem examinations will be arranged,” the statement added.