Shock and heartbreak have swept through the rural community of Drumgowna, County Louth, after the violent deaths of three members of the O'Connor family—Mark, Louise, and their son Evan—were discovered at their home on Monday morning, September 29, 2025. The tragedy has not only stunned neighbors and friends but also sent ripples of grief through advocacy groups, schools, and charities across the region, all of whom remember the family as pillars of compassion and activism.
According to Superintendent Andrew Watters, who addressed reporters at Drogheda Garda Station, the deaths of Louise O'Connor, 56, her husband Mark O'Connor, 54, and their 27-year-old son Evan, are being treated as a homicide incident. "The O'Connor family are a very well-known and respected family. They are good neighbours and an integral part of their local community in Drumgowna and the wider area of Louth and Monaghan," Supt Watters said, as reported by BBC and The Irish Times.
The grim discovery was made shortly before 10:00 a.m. on Monday, when Gardaí—Irish police—were called to the O'Connor residence, a stone cottage nestled on a rural road near the villages of Killanny, Louth, and Tallanstown, close to the County Louth/Monaghan border. The call came from a staff member at The Hub daycare center, where Evan, who was autistic, had attended daily for the past nine years. The staff member had arrived to collect Evan, only to encounter a scene of tragedy.
Authorities quickly cordoned off the property for forensic examination, with the Garda National Technical Bureau and Divisional Search Team scouring the scene for evidence. Preliminary examinations conducted by a pathologist indicated that all three victims had sustained stab wounds, a detail confirmed by both The Irish Times and BBC. The bodies were removed from the scene on Monday night and taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, where full post-mortem examinations began on Tuesday, September 30.
In the immediate aftermath, a man in his 30s was arrested on foot nearby, having been seen walking the local roads and reportedly attempting to secure a lift to Tallanstown village. Gardaí confirmed that he is the only suspect in the case, and as of Tuesday evening, he remained in custody under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. Garda sources indicated that an assessment of the man’s mental condition was part of their inquiries, though the motive for the killings remains unclear. Superintendent Watters emphasized, "Gardaí are not looking for any other person at this juncture in connection with this investigation."
The shock of the incident has reverberated well beyond the O'Connor household. The family, who had three adult sons, were deeply embedded in the fabric of their community. Mark and Louise O'Connor were founding parents of Drogheda Abacas Special School, established in 2003 specifically to support autistic children. Evan was one of its first pupils and attended the school for 14 years. In a heartfelt statement, the school and Autism Support Louth/Meath youth clubs expressed their "deepest sadness" and gratitude for the O'Connors’ tireless advocacy. "Both Mark and Louise were passionate advocates for their son Evan and for all autistic people. They campaigned, lobbied, and fundraised for the school and youth clubs and will always be remembered for their legacy to Abacas and to autistic people," the statement read.
Mark O'Connor's commitment to advocacy extended well beyond the school gates. Since 2021, he worked as a regional manager for Ireland's National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities. Joanne Condon, the service’s national manager, remembered Mark as "a kind, thoughtful and valued colleague" whose "warmth, generosity of spirit, and professionalism touched countless lives at our workplace and beyond." She highlighted his passion for human rights and his particular focus on empowering disabled people to have a voice in decisions affecting their lives.
Louise O'Connor was equally active in social causes, dedicating her time to fundraising for mental health services, cancer charities, and volunteering with local organizations. The family also adopted a pet dog from the Louth Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), where they became known as enthusiastic supporters and volunteers. Fiona Squibb from the Louth SPCA described the O'Connors as "joyful" and "selfless," recalling, "If you're feeling down, meeting them on a bad day was a good thing because they would just up your spirits immediately." She added that Evan, in particular, loved visiting the SPCA, running excitedly to see the animals—a passion she attributed to the nurturing spirit of his parents.
Community organizations have joined in mourning the loss. North East Runners Dundalk, where Mark was a member, expressed "immense sadness and shock," noting, "His commitment to the sport was an inspiration to us all. His kindness and spirit enriched our entire community." Plans are underway to organize support for club members in the coming days, reflecting the sense of unity and solidarity that the O'Connors helped foster.
In the wake of the tragedy, the family’s surviving relatives and the Drumgowna community have been offered support through a family liaison officer appointed by Gardaí. An incident room has been established at Ardee Garda Station, and a senior investigating officer is overseeing the inquiry. Superintendent Watters appealed for privacy for the family and urged anyone with information to come forward, stating, "An Garda Síochána will keep the family informed of the ongoing investigation and support them as they come to terms with this tragedy. An Garda Síochána will also closely support the local community in the Drumgowna area over the coming days as they come to terms with the violent death of their neighbours."
The magnitude of the loss has drawn condolences from national figures. Taoiseach Micheál Martin extended his "deepest sympathies to the wider O'Connor family and community at the appalling killings," calling it a "really sad and shocking event." Leaders of the Catholic Church in Ireland, including Archbishop Eamon Martin and Auxiliary Bishop Michael Router, sent their "heartful sympathy," acknowledging, "This devastating news has shaken the entire local community and, indeed, the whole country."
The O'Connors had recently celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary on September 12 and had marked the milestone of finishing their mortgage in June—a testament to a life built together and shared with their children and community. Their legacy, as advocates, neighbors, and friends, is reflected in the outpouring of grief and remembrance from every corner of County Louth and beyond.
As forensic teams continue their meticulous work and the investigation proceeds, the Drumgowna community faces the difficult task of coming to terms with the loss of a family who, in the words of many, were “an inspiration to us all.”
