Gardaí are investigating a stabbing incident in Callan, Co Kilkenny, that left a two-year-old girl and her father dead, and her mother in a serious condition in hospital.
A Garda spokeswoman said gardaí were alerted to the tragedy by a passing neighbour at about 5 p.m.
The body of a two-year-old girl was found outside the house on a pavement; her father (33) was found fatally wounded inside the house.
The child's mother, named locally as Ms Lorraine Leahy (26), was also found in the house, suffering from stab wounds.
A spokeswoman at St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, last night described the condition of the injured woman as serious but stable.
Post-mortems are being carried out by the State pathologist Dr John Harbison, the results are expected later today.
It is understood the man, named locally as Mr George McGloin, died of self-inflicted stab wounds. His daughter, Robyn, was found with knife wounds to her neck.