The jury at the inquest into the deaths of a young mother and her two young children who were found dead in a burning house at Windgap, Co Kilkenny, on Christmas morning 2008 has returned a verdict of death by murder in relation to all three.
Sergeant Frank McKenna outlined the background to the case and told Kilkenny Coroners Court that on the 25 December 2008 a fire was reported at the isolated farmhouse.
When the emergency services arrived at the house, 30-year-old Sharon Whelan and her two daughters, seven-year-old Zsaram and two-year-old Nadia, were already dead.
At the inquest, neighbour Michael Landy described finding the three bodies in the downstairs of the house.
Mr Landy said the youngest child was in her cot and the seven-year-old was on the floor nearby.
He said Ms Whelan was on the floor, face down, with a duvet over her.
Earlier, Ms Whelan’s father told the court his daughter and the two girls slept in the sitting room because it was easy to heat.
