Gardaí are investigating what they believe is the murder of three people in Co Louth.
They were called to a house in the Drumgowna area this morning where the bodies of three people - two men and a woman - were discovered.
The house is located close to the Louth/Monaghan border near the villages of Killanny, Louth village and Tallanstown.
It is believed all three people were violently attacked and sustained fatal injuries. All are from the same family.
A man in his 30s has been arrested and is being held at a garda station in the northwest region. He is being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act and can be held for up to 24 hours.
It is understood medical assistance is being sought for him.
The area has been sealed off and the State Pathologist's Office and the Garda Technical Bureau have been informed.
The bodies of the three people remain at the scene.
Gardaí are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident at present and there is no threat to the public.
There is a large garda presence at the scene and all approaches to the house, which is a stone cottage, have been sealed off.
Members of the Garda Technical Bureau are attending and a blue tent has been erected in the driveway of the house.
Searches are being carried out both inside and around the outside of the property as forensics look for anything of evidential value.
Watch: North East Correspondent Marc O'Driscoll reports from scene in Tallanstown
The Minister for Justice said that gardaí are not looking for anyone else in respect of "this criminal act" and that there's no ongoing threat to the public in Co Louth.
Jim O'Callaghan said that "there's no further information I can put into the public domain at present, but I think further information will become available in due course".
Watch: Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan says gardaí not looking for anyone else
Family very well known in area, says councillor
A local councillor has said the family are very well known in the agricultural area between the three villages of Tallanstown, Louth village and Stonetown.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One programme, Councillor John Sheridan said he would have been at the house during local elections. He would have known the family through local community and sporting events over the years. He said they are very well known in the area.
"We hear of tragic events quite often. We don't expect them to happen in our own locality. There is a huge degree of shock in the area.
"There are garda cordons in place so it's not possible to get near the house. There were a lot of reports this morning of emergency vehicles coming from Dundalk and obviously gardaí are now following up in relation to the incident," he said.
Local TD expresses shock at incident in 'quiet, rural area'
Sinn Féin TD for Louth, Ruairí Ó Murchú, expressed his shock at the news of the deaths of the three people.
"This is a truly shocking and appalling incident which has absolutely stunned the whole community all over County Louth.
"The fact that three members of one family seem to have died in dreadful and violent circumstances on a Monday morning in a quiet and rural area of Mid Louth is appalling.
"I would appeal for anyone with information to go to the gardaí immediately," said Mr Ó Murchú.
