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Murders of Lisa Cash, Christy Cawley and Chelsea Cawley

Siblings, Lisa Cash, Christy Cawley and Chelsea Cawley, aged 18 and 8 respectively, from Tallaght, South County Dublin were killed in their home, in the early hours of 4 September 2022.[1] Their 14-year-old brother raised the alarm by jumping out of the window. A 24-year-old man, Andy Cash, was arrested at the scene, and was charged with the murders the following day.[2][3][4][5]

Murders of Lisa Cash, Christy Cawley and Chelsea Cawley
Date4 September 2022
LocationTallaght, Dublin, Ireland
Deaths3
Non-fatal injuries1
AccusedAndy Cash
ConvictionsMurder (3 counts)
Sentence3 life sentences

Victims

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The three siblings grew up in Tallaght, Dublin. Eight-year-old twins Christy and Chelsea Cawley attended St Aidan's Senior National School and had recently made their First Holy Communion.[6] 18-year-old Lisa Cash attended St Aidan's Community School and sat her Leaving Certificate in 2021.[7][8]

Attack

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Gardaí were called to the property on the Rossfield Estate in Tallaght at about 12:30 am on Sunday 4 September 2022, describing the incident as "violent, challenging and traumatic."[9][10] The three siblings were stabbed a number of times by a man known to them who used a large bladed object and were taken by ambulance to Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin, but all three were later pronounced dead.[11][12] Their 14-year-old brother, who managed to flee the property to notify neighbours, was also hospitalised with non-life-threatening injuries.[13] Gardaí believed the twins were thrown from an upstairs window during the attack.[14]

Investigation

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A suspect known to the victims, a man in his early 20s, was arrested at the scene after being subdued by members of the Garda Armed Support Unit (ASU) and Garda Emergency Response Unit (ERU) using non-lethal weapons, including a taser and pepper spray.[15]

A full forensic examination of the scene was carried out. The upstairs and downstairs windows of the property were open and smashed while blood stains could be seen on the window frames.[16]

The suspect was treated for injuries while in custody, which delayed questioning.[2] He had previously been investigated in relation to an assault against a member of the children's family but was not convicted of the crime. He had also previously made threats against the family and had been linked to number of alcohol-fuelled incidents including criminal damage. He was also known to local Gardaí for offences including theft and burglary, but had no major previous convictions.[17]

The next day, on 5 September, 24-year-old Andy Cash was charged with the three counts of murder of his three siblings.[18] That evening, he was brought before a special late sitting of Dublin District Court.[19]

Sentencing

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26-year-old Andy Cash pleaded guilty to the murders of his two sisters and brother – Lisa Cash, Christy and Chelsea Cawley – on 7 May 2024 at the Central Criminal Court. He received three terms of life imprisonment, the mandatory sentence.[20] The court heard Cash subjected his victims to hundreds of stab and slash wounds before throwing the body of his eight-year-old brother out of the first floor window of their home. All three victims had suffered "catastrophic" injuries having been stabbed multiple times, the detective said. All three victims had suffered "catastrophic" injuries, particularly their faces, necks and torsos. Lisa had 71 injuries, Christy had 107 and Chelsea had 65.[21][22]

Reactions

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Garda Commissioner Drew Harris described the incident as "dreadful and traumatic".[23] Minister for Justice Helen McEntee described the killings as a "tragedy, so awful and heart-breaking."[24] Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was shocked and appalled as was the entire country at the deaths.[25]

On his morning radio programme on Monday 5 September, Irish broadcaster Ryan Tubridy broke down as he tried to discuss the incident.[26] Principal of St. Aidan's Community School in Brookfield, Kevin Shortall, said that the community was struggling to comprehend the tragedy.

A large crowd gathered for a vigil which was held the day after the killings outside the house to mourn the three siblings. Balloons were released and candles were lit in memory of the trio, as songs were played to the crowd.[27][28][29]

References

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  1. ^ Schiller, Robin; Moloney, Eoghan; Doyle, Kevin (4 September 2022). "Twins (8) and their teenage sister (18) stabbed to death in Dublin". Irish Independent. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  2. ^ a b Reynolds, Paul (5 September 2022). "Man charged over siblings' murders in Tallaght". RTÉ News.
  3. ^ "Tallaght, Dublin: Three siblings killed in 'violent incident'". BBC News. 4 September 2022.
  4. ^ Ni Aodha, Grainne; McCurry, Cate (5 September 2022). "'Lovely big sister' killed in Tallaght tragedy was 'quiet and full of integrity'". IrishMirror.ie.
  5. ^ Schiller, Robin (5 September 2022). "Man charged in connection with murders of his three siblings in Tallaght". Irish Independent. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  6. ^ O'Keeffe, Chloe (5 September 2022). "RTE's Ryan Tubridy suddenly goes off air as he struggles to discuss Tallaght deaths". extra.ie. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  7. ^ Murray, Sean (5 September 2022). "Tallaght killings leave a nation frightened at their magnitude". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  8. ^ Ryan, Órla; O'Connor, Niall; McCarron, Jamie; McNally, Tadgh; Halpin, Hayley (5 September 2022). "Community 'in shock' over death of three siblings in Tallaght". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  9. ^ Minelle, Bethany (4 September 2022). "Teen and two children killed in 'violent incident' in Dublin". Sky News. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  10. ^ McCurry, Cate; Mathers, Matt (4 September 2022). "Teenager and her younger twin siblings killed in 'violent and traumatic incident' in Dublin". The Independent. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  11. ^ Schiller, Robin; Moloney, Eoghan; Doyle, Kevin (4 September 2022). "Tallaght stabbings: Gardaí release pictures of tragic twins (8) and older sister who died in attack at their home". Irish Independent. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  12. ^ Ray, John (4 September 2022). "Teenage girl and eight-year-old twins killed in violent incident in Dublin". ITV News. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  13. ^ "Police name three young siblings killed in violent incident in Dublin". The Guardian. 4 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  14. ^ Kane, Robbie; Healy, Paul (5 September 2022). "Tragic Dublin twins were callously thrown out top window of Tallaght home after being stabbed". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  15. ^ Foy, Ken (5 September 2022). "How non-lethal weapons were used to arrest triple murder suspect in Tallaght murder case". Irish Independent. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  16. ^ Murphy, Greg (4 September 2022). "'A deep shock': Man arrested after three siblings killed in violent incident in Dublin". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  17. ^ Schiller, Robin (5 September 2022). "Tallaght stabbings: Chief suspect in murder of three siblings previously investigated for attacking member of children's family". Irish Independent. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  18. ^ Tuite, Tom (5 September 2022). "Man in court charged with murdering three of his siblings in Tallaght". The Irish Times. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  19. ^ Tuite, Tom (5 September 2022). "Man charged with murder of three of his siblings in Tallaght". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  20. ^ Reynolds, Alison O'Riordan and Eoin (7 May 2024). "Andy Cash given three life sentences for murders of his two sisters and brother in their Tallaght home". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  21. ^ "Man jailed for life for murders of three siblings in Dublin". RTÉ News. 7 May 2024.
  22. ^ "Andy Cash 'said uncomfortable things' at family event before murdering three siblings". Sunday World. 7 May 2024.
  23. ^ Reynolds, Paul (5 September 2022). "Tallaght incident 'dreadful' and 'traumatic' - Harris". RTÉ News.
  24. ^ Murphy, Ann (5 September 2022). "Man being questioned in connection with Tallaght siblings' deaths". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  25. ^ Lally, Conor; Wilson, Jade; Moore, Brian (5 September 2022). "Taoiseach extends sympathies to family of Tallaght victims". The Irish Times. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  26. ^ Curran, Rachel (5 September 2022). "Shaken Ryan Tubridy suddenly goes off air during RTE radio show". DublinLive.ie.
  27. ^ "Vigil held to remember siblings killed in Tallaght attack". RTÉ News. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  28. ^ McCurry, Cate; Ní Aodha, Gráinne (5 September 2022). "Flowers and candles at Tallaght home of siblings who died in violent incident". Irish Independent. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  29. ^ "Tallaght, Dublin: Vigil held for siblings killed in attack". BBC News. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
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