DUBLIN: A man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a mother and her two children from Mysore, India, at their rented house in Dublin.
The bodies of 37-year-old Seema Banu, her 11-year-old daughter Asfira Syed and six-year-old son Faizan Syed were found on October 28 at their home in Llewellyn Court, Rathfarnham in south Dublin. Garda then launched a murder investigation.
A man was arrested today in connection with the incident and is being held at the Dundrum Garda Station under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, the Garda said in a statement. However, Garda did not say if this was one of Seema Banu’s close relatives.
Seema Banu and her family had lived in the south Dublin estate for just under a year. Both children were students at the Ballinteer Educate Together National School. The family arrived in Dublin from Dubai in February.
Her family in Mysore had sought the constant help of the Indian Embassy and the Irish Government to investigate the deaths of Seema Banu and her children. Some members of her family had raised suspicions that the husband of Seema Banu was responsible for the murder.
The 36-year-old was questioned by the gardai within days of her body being found, but was not arrested.
This morning, the Gardai revealed that a man in his 30s had been arrested in connection with the murder of Seema Banu and her children.
The Gardai was informed by one of the neighbour, who said he had not seen the family outside for several days.
The post-mortem examinations revealed signs that all three of them had been strangled to death. But the report has not been officially released.
A number of ligatures were recovered from the scene. The house was flooded after the tap was left open, which hampered the search for evidence.
However, Gardai said the investigation is ongoing.