Management at the school attended by Tom and Paddy O'Driscoll say they're deeply shocked by their sudden and untimely deaths.

The 9 year old third class pupils were found stabbed to death at their home in Charleville County Cork yesterday afternoon.

Gardai suspect the twins may have been victims of a murder-suicide incident, following the discovery of their 22 year old brother Jonathan's body later in the evening.

In a statement, the principal of Banogue National School in Limerick Sheila Cagney described the twins as 'loving, energetic and full of fun'.

The National Educational Psychological Service is helping staff to deal with the tragedy.

Southern Correspondent with the Irish Times Barry Roche says the boys' parents had gone out to buy the twins a present when it happened:

Post mortems will be carried out later on the bodies of twin brothers discovered in Cork yesterday.

Gardai suspect 9 year olds Tom and Paddy O'Driscoll may have been stabbed to death in an apparent murder suicide.

Their older brother was found dead later in the evening.

Jennifer Ryan reports: