Gardaí have officially launched a murder investigation into the deaths of a mother and her two children at their home in Dublin.

37-year-old Seema Banu was found dead alongside her 11-year-old daughter Asfira and six-year-old son Faizan at their home at Llewellyn Court in Balinteer on Wednesday.

It is believed they died violently and may have been strangled.

Post-mortem examinations on all three bodies have now been completed and this afternoon, Gardaí at Dundrum Garda Station launched a murder inquiry.

Meanwhile, a man in his 30s who investigators spoke to on Wednesday evening remains under 24-hour Garda surveillance.

Investigators are continuing to appeal to anyone who has any information on the deaths to come forward.

They are also conducting door-to-door enquiries and examining CCTV evidence.

Gardaí have again appealed to the public not to share “uninformed speculation” that is “circulating in public is unhelpful to this criminal investigation.”

A candlelit vigil was held in the Llewellyn Estate on Wednesday night for the family.