PSNIA mother and two children killed in a suspected triple murder and attempted suicide in County Fermanagh have been named by police as Vanessa Whyte, her son James Rutledge and daughter Sara Rutledge.
They died after being shot at a house in Drummeer Road in Maguiresbridge on Wednesday.
Vanessa, a veterinary surgeon, was 45, James was 14 and Sara was 13, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said.
A man – who is a member of the same household – is being treated for serious gunshot injuries at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
The shooting happened in a rural area about 75 miles (121km) west of Belfast and about eight miles from the county’s largest town, Enniskillen.
Two of the victims were declared dead at the scene on Wednesday morning and a third died later in hospital.
Police said no arrests had been made and it was not anticipated that any would be made.
They added that the investigation was at an early stage, but a suspected triple murder and attempted suicide was one line of inquiry for detectives.
Police appealed for anyone who had spoken to Ms Whyte or her children in the past few weeks to contact them.
“If you are someone that Vanessa, Sara or James may have confided in, please come and speak to us,” Det Ch Insp Neil McGuinness said.
“Any information, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem could prove crucial to our investigation.”
In a letter to parents on Thursday, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School’s principal said the school was mourning “the loss of two vibrant and much valued pupils”.
“I know that our school community will hold each other close in this time of loss,” Elizabeth Armstrong said.
The school added that the children’s father was seriously ill in hospital in Belfast.
Ms Whyte was originally from Barefield, County Clare, in the Republic of Ireland.
Gardaí (Irish police) said they were working with the PSNI and a Garda family liaison has been appointed to the family of the deceased.
The mayor of Ennis, Mary Howard, said the incident is “heartbreaking for the family concerned and for Vanessa’s wide circle of friends”.
“The impact of this will be huge, I’ve no doubt about that, both within her family and her circle of friends and her community here in Clare and up north.”
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) said Ms Whyte was “a valued member of our Veterinary Services and Animal Health Group and a hugely respected member of the veterinary profession”.
“She will be greatly missed by all who worked alongside her,” Daera added.
Northern Ireland’s Chief Veterinary Officer Brian Dooher said she was “a devoted mother and an active member of her local community”.
“Many of us had the privilege of knowing Vanessa personally and she was hugely admired by all those who came across her.
“The loss we feel today is immense and it has profoundly affected us.”
There has been widespread shock and devastation in the local area.
The Catholic Bishop of Clogher, Larry Duffy, said news of the deaths is “causing deep distress in the community of County Fermanagh and beyond”.
The Reverend Lindsey Farrell, from Maguiresbridge Christ Church, told BBC News NI people were “numb – everyone is in shock”.
“But this is a strong community here in Maguiresbridge and we stand united, we stand together in support of this family and of all who have been impacted by this and we are keeping them all in our prayers,” she said.
Sinn Féin MP Pat Cullen said the children were “part of the fabric of the community”.
“Two wee children have lost their lives and a mummy, when they just should be enjoying the school holidays and having a wonderful time,” she told the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme.
She added that the local community was “absolutely heartbroken”.
Ulster Unionist peer Lord Elliott said the wider family is well known.
“It’s just devastating, people are really finding it difficult to get their head around this and that this actually happened,” he said.
The three family members who died were each members of two GAA clubs in County Fermanagh.
St Mary’s Maguiresbridge Gaelic Football Club and St Patrick’s Hurling Club Lisbellaw described them as “active and beloved” members of their organisations.
Enniskillen Cricket Club described the children as “two absolutely lovely natured children”.
Northern Ireland’s leaders released a joint statement on Wednesday night, thanking the emergency services who responded to the shooting.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said they were “deeply saddened” by what had happened.
