West Dublin authorities discover father and son dead in separate homes after alleged tragic killing in shared custody situation

By Gift Badewo

Published: January 9, 2026 | 9:45 AM GMT

A quiet Thursday morning in west Dublin turned into a scene of horror after a father and son were found dead in separate homes, leaving neighbors and authorities stunned.

Gardaí are investigating the circumstances that led to the deaths, which appear to have involved both family members.

Father and Son Found Dead

Authorities believe the incident began in a Clondalkin home, where a man allegedly killed his young son before traveling to his ex-partner’s property.

The father’s body was later discovered in the back garden of the ex-partner’s house.

Gardaí were first alerted to the father’s death, prompting an immediate investigation.

Discovery of the Boy’s Body

Following the discovery of the father, emergency services visited a home in Clondalkin and forced entry to find the child’s body.

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The two victims have been named as Wayne and Oisín O’Reilly.

Both had been reported missing last October, but at that time, a Garda search ended safely when they were found unharmed.

Custody Arrangements and Family Context

It is understood that Wayne O’Reilly had shared custody of his son with his ex-partner.

The relationship and custody arrangements are now part of Garda inquiries as investigators try to piece together the tragic sequence of events.

Locations and Community Impact

The two homes, located roughly a 15-minute drive apart in Clondalkin and Ballyfermot, were both decorated for Christmas, highlighting the stark contrast between the holiday season and the tragedy.

Emergency responders arrived at the Cherry Orchard property around 8:30 a.m., finding the father in his 40s deceased at the scene.

Next Steps in the Investigation

Gardaí continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths, speaking with family, neighbors, and other relevant witnesses.

Authorities are also reviewing the timeline of events to understand how this tragedy unfolded and to provide answers for the devastated families.

About Gift Badewo

A performance driven and goal oriented young lady with excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills. She is experienced in creative writing, editing, proofreading, and administration. Gift is also skilled in Customer Service and Relationship Management, Project Management, Human Resource Management, Team work, and Leadership with a Master's degree in Communication and Language Arts (Applied Communication).