Updated 12.35pm
Gardaí have made a major breakthrough in three cold case deaths in Co Kildare.
20-year-old Barbara Doyle and her two young nieces Mary Ellen and Kerrie Byrne died in a fire in Kilcock on this day in 1987.
Barbara had been babysitting while the two girls' parents - Aidan (now deceased) and Elizabeth - went to a 21st party in the area.
The fire was reported between 3.00am and 4.00am on September 20th.
Image: An Garda Síochána
Detectives say they are now treating the deaths as a triple murder investigation.
Chief Superintendent Gerard Roche says the development comes after ‘new evidence’ came to light quite recently.
He said: "We now believe that the fire was started deliberately.
"The investigation has now been upgraded to a murder investigation. We are satisfied that there are people who will remember this fire [...] and who have not yet spoken to the gardaí".
Image: An Garda Síochána
He added: "We are appealing to any person who has any information to contact Leixlip Garda Station at 01-6667800 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111. I would further appeal that the privacy of the Byrne and Doyle families is respected at this time.”
Gardai say a fire in Kilcock in 1987 in which a woman and two young girls died is now being treated as a triple murder investigation pic.twitter.com/MZhVxBRLbX
— Stephanie Grogan (@StephGrogan3) September 20, 2017