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It has emerged locally that the three family members found dead at a house in Ballymena, Co Antrim, were originally from Poland.
It comes as detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s (PSNI) Major Investigation Team launched a murder investigation. The deaths are suspected to have occured in what is now thought to be a murder suicide.
The bodies of a male and two females were discovered at a family home on Monday morning.
It is now understood that the deceased are believed to be a couple and a child.
Toys were pictured outside the house, an indication that a child was living there, with a pair of pink and blue child’s sandals drying on a washing line.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Jerome Mullen the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland, described the tragedy as “heartbreaking”.
“The tragedy of the situation which has arisen in Ballymena yesterday and the tragic deaths of all of the victims concerned especially the 8-year-old child, our hearts go out to the family of the victims concerned,” said Mr Mullen.
“I’ve never seen or experienced anything like this in 18 years, it’s such a tragedy that has occurred overnight.”
The Polish Consulate has been informed of the deaths. Those connected to the couple, including family members living in the North, are being assisted.
A cause of death has not yet been formally established, and a post-mortem will take place in due course, the force said.
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