The two-year-old girl stabbed to death yesterday in Co Kilkenny was killed by her father before he turned the knife on himself, it emerged tonight.
George McGloin, 34, plunged a knife into the neck of Robyn Leahy during a row with his former partner at her home in Callan, Co Kilkenny yesterday.
The girl's mother - named locally as Lorraine Leahy - suffered head injuries during the row. She is in a stable condition in hospital.
Superintendent Pat Hogan, who is leading the investigation, said tonight: "At 5pm yesterday evening Gardai were called to Callan. On arrival they were met with a very tragic scene. "The body of a two and a half-year-old girl was on the street and across the road the body of a 34-year-old man was in the house," he said.
"The child and the father had been in the house. The mother returned some time later and following a dispute she ran from the house and fled calling for help. She had visible injuries to her head and face.
"Some neighbours went into the house and this was the reason the child was brought from the house. Both the child and the man had visible injuries."
He added: "The mother of the child was injured and she was removed to St Luke's hospital in Kilkenny where she is being treated for injuries that I believe are not life threatening."
State pathologist Dr John Harbison completed the post-mortem examinations at Waterford Regional Hospital tonight.
A garda spokesman said: "The post-mortem results showed that both died from stab wounds.
"Both were injured by a knife of some description."
Lorraine Leahy is from Callan and Mr McGloin was originally from Ontario in Canada but had lived in Rahene, Co Kilkenny, for several years.
Mr McGloin did not live with the mother and child, but had regular access and visited the house frequently.
Callan parish priest Fr William Dalton said the community was devastated.
"I understand there was some domestic dispute and it ended in tragedy," he said.
"I arrived in Callan about half an hour after the incident and I saw the two bodies at the scene.
He added: "Obviously we are all very much devastated and numbed by these terrible happenings."