Postmortems on the couple whose bodies were found along with those of their two children in Wexford on Saturday show they died from gunshot wounds.
The scene outside the family's home on Saturday
Gardaí said tonight that Diarmuid Flood (41) died from injuries consistent with a single gunshot wound to the head while his wife Lorraine (38) died from a similar wound to her chest.
At a briefing in Wexford, Garda Superintendent Kevin Donohue said it remains unclear how the couple’s two children, Mark (6) and Julie (5), died but he believed their deaths were not caused by the fire in the house in Clonroche.
He said gardaí were awaiting the results of two toxicology tests which are due to be carried out on the children’s bodies.
Gardaí have ruled out third-party involvement and are working on the theory that the deaths may have been the result of a murder-suicide.
Earlier the families of the couple and two children appealed to the media to refrain from speculation about how the family died and asked for privacy to grieve.
Ms Flood's body was found in bed in the couple's upstairs bedroom and her husband in one of the reception rooms downstairs. Julie was found in her bed, while Mark was on the landing of the house.
A legally held shotgun, owned by a third party, was found at the scene. The weapon was lent to Mr Flood some years ago and kept in his house. The licence was maintained by the original owner.
Denis Kennedy, read a statement on behalf of both families this morning appealing for space to mourn their loss.
“In the light of the recent events with much sorrow in our hearts we the bereaved families ask to be afforded the privacy to mourn and cherish our dearly departed,” the statement said.
“We ask the media to understand our wishes to be allowed the dignity to put to rest our loved ones without undue attention and speculation.
“We urge the media, our wider community and the nation to understand how deeply we have been affected by his tragedy and realise that Diarmuid and Lorraine were children to their parents and Mark and Julie were grandchildren to their grandparents, siblings to their siblings and loved by all who knew them.”
Postmortems and the Garda's technical examination of the scene had to be suspended yesterday after asbestos, believed to be from roof tiles, was found in the Flood family's burnt home in Clonroche.
Deputy State Pathologist Dr Declan Gilsenan carried out a preliminary examination of the scene. The bodies were removed from the house yesterday evening.
Prayers were said for the family and their relatives at Sunday Mass in the local St Clement's Catholic Church in Cloughbawn. Fr Richard Redmond said the deaths had given the community "heavy hearts and a great sense of sadness".