Murder of Barbara Doyle, Mary Ellen & Kerrie Byrne on the 20/9/87

Gardaí at Naas Garda Station are investigating a fatal house fire that occurred on 20th September 1987 claiming the lives of twenty-year-old Barbara Doyle and her two young nieces, eight-year-old Mary Ellen and five-year-old Kerrie Byrne.

Barbara was babysitting her two nieces for her sister Liz for the evening in their home at Church Lane. Liz and her husband Aidan were going to a party in the town. At around 3am Liz and Aidan were making their way home when a neighbour told them that their house was on fire. A large crowd gathered at the house on Church Lane including extended family members. Sadly, Barbara, Mary Ellen and Kerrie died in the fire. The fire was treated as an accident.

On the 20th September 2017, following the discovery of new evidence, this case was upgraded to a murder investigation and remains on going.

The girl’s mother Liz and sister Pamela, spoke for the first time about the devastating impact this had on their family and appealed for help and assistance from the public and local community.    

Appeal

• Gardaí are appealing to anyone with information about this incident to come forward now and believe there are people with information that could assist the investigation who have not come forward before now.

• Gardaí believe that with the passage of time and changes in circumstance and relationships people may now be in a position to come forward with information.

• A man was seen running from the house on Church Lane as it was burning, Gardaí believe this man knocked on the next doors neighbours house. This man has never been identified.

Gardaí at Naas Garda Station are investigating tel: (045) 884 300