Couple found dead nine years after fire killed their two children and family

Bridgid ‘Biddy’ O’Brien and her partner Jamie McGinn were found dead in their home

A couple have been found dead in their home – nearly a decade after their two young children died in a house fire.

Emergency services rushed to Cois Cairn on Bray’s Old Connaught Road, on the border between Dublin and Wicklow, where the bodies of a man and a woman were found.

The couple were later identified as Bridgid ‘Biddy’ O’Brien, 45, and her partner Jamie McGinn, 38. The tragedy comes nine years after their two young children died in a horror fire in March 2017, Irish Mirror reports.

Sources told the outlet that investigators do not believe, at this stage, that there was foul play in either of their deaths. Mr McGinn, who was found just outside the house in Bray, suffered visible injuries, sources tell us.

But they added there was no indication Ms O’Brien had suffered any injuries. Gardai do not believe anyone else was involved in her death.

Two full postmortems have now taken place and gardai hope this will help solve the mystery of how the couple died.

But sources also added that detectives will likely have to wait several weeks before receiving results of toxicology tests.

The couple never got over the deaths of their children Jordan, four, and three-year-old Holly, who died in a fire that also killed their aunt and a young cousin in West Dublin in March 2017.

“It’s another terrible tragedy for the family,” a source told the Irish Mirror.

Biddy and Jamie were found dead at their home in Cois Cairn on Bray Old Connaught Road at around 8am on Wednesday.

Gardai said the post mortem will now decide the next step in the investigation.

It said in a statement: “Gardaí from the Serious Crime Unit, DMR East, are continuing to investigate all the circumstances surrounding the discovery of two bodies in a residential property in Bray, Dublin.

“Shortly after 8:00am gardaí were alerted to the discovery of the bodies of a man in his 30s and a woman in her 40s at a residence in Old Connaught Avenue, Bray.

“Both people were pronounced dead at the scene.

“The bodies of both have been removed to the City Morgue in Whitehall, where a post mortem examination by State Pathologist, Dr. Sally Anne Collis will be completed this evening and tomorrow.

“The results of the post mortem examination will assist gardaí to determine the course of the investigation going forward.”

And the force called for all witnesses to follow.

The statement said: “The scene remains for technical examination tonight, October 21, 2026.

“A Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) is leading the investigation from an incident room at Dun Laoghaire Garda Station.

“Family Liaison Officers have been appointed to support the bereaved families.

“An Garda Síochána is appealing to anyone with any information in relation to this incident to contact Dun Laoghaire Garda Station on (01) 666 5000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

The couple were left devastated after the fire killed Jordan and Holly in March 2017 – leaving Biddy fighting for her life.

The tragedy happened when she brought her children to stay with her sister Anne Marie O’Brien at a shelter in Clondalkin.

A fire broke out in the refuge and claimed the lives of Biddy’s two children – as well as Anne Marie, who was seven months pregnant, and her daughter Paris, aged two.

Biddy, who was the sole survivor of the fire, spent several weeks in intensive care and only regained consciousness about a month after the disaster.

James then had to break the news to her that her children, as well as Anne Marie and little Paris, had all perished in the fire.

An inquest later heard that the fire was accidental, and was probably caused by a tealight or candle setting fire to a large TV screen.

Friends paid tribute to the couple online on Wednesday.

One said: “RIP Jamie and Biddy, sleep well mate, now back with your babies.”

Another said: “Can’t believe it, rest in peace you two.”

And another said: “Our hearts are broken. Not a day has gone by without you calling us for lunch or dinner or a chat – how can life go on without the big smile that helps in our home?”

“You left too soon, no chance for goodbye.

“Strength and hold your babies, they deserve to have you back with them. We love you miss you forever.”

Sinn Féin Wicklow TD John Brady said the area was deeply shocked by the couple’s deaths.

“(It’s) absolutely devastating for the community here in the area,” he told RTÉ.

He added: “I think a real sense of disbelief that a tragedy like this could unfold. We talk to a lot of residents here, (there’s) just a real sense of shock and disbelief.

“My thoughts are with the family, the wider community here and also with the extended family of both victims.

“I am aware that there is also an extended family in this country, so a real shock in the community. These people would have been well known in the community,” he said.

“It’s a very, very close community here. Everyone knows everyone.”

The couple had both experienced substance abuse problems after the death of their children and Mr McGinn had become addicted to drugs.

In February 2024, he was jailed for 18 months after admitting to possessing almost €200,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis – which he held for a drug gang.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Mr McGinn accepted responsibility for the drugs. He was arrested and confessed to the crime the year before.

He told gardai that he had a drug debt of €8,000 and that he kept the drugs to reduce his debt.

The court also heard that his only other convictions were for road traffic offences.