Dad of boy, 4, murdered in Edenderry petrol bomb attack begs judge to be sentenced in days over €32k heroin seizure

Aaron Holt, 27, previously pleaded guilty to a seizure of €32,910 worth of heroin near his home in Edenderry in January 2025
THE father of murdered four-year-old Tadhg Farrell pleaded with a judge to be sentenced this week over a €32,000 heroin seizure.

Aaron Holt, 27, appeared before Tullamore Circuit Court by video link this morning.

Holt’s young son Tadhg, and the boy’s grandaunt Mary Holt, 60, were killed in a horror petrol bomb attack at a home in Castleview Park in Edenderry, Co Offaly last month.

Holt’s mother Pauline remains in hospital being treated for serious injuries from the incident.

The accused previously pleaded guilty to a seizure of €32,910 worth of heroin near his home in Edenderry in January 2025.

The offence is contrary to section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act, which can carry a minimum of ten years behind bars.

During the brief hearing on Tuesday morning, a barrister for Holt told Judge Keenan Johnson that her client was listed for a section 99 re-entry hearing on Friday, to revoke a suspended portion of a sentence.

She asked to consider listing Holt for this matter and sentencing regarding the heroin seizure on Thursday.

Holt intervened: “Can I get sentenced on that date please?”

The Judge confirmed he would be, before Holt added: “Thanks very much. God bless Judge.”

Father-of-three Holt was refused compassionate bail to attend little Tadhg’s funeral last month.

The court heard that Holt was front and centre of the drugs trade in Edenderry, with an officer stating he was the principal supplier in the area.

Detective Garda Joseph Bradley told the hearing that there would be major concerns around the safety of Holt and others if he was released for his son’s funeral, before the application was rejected.

Mr Holt has 57 previous convictions; ten for drugs, while 54 of the offences were committed on bail.

The major investigation into the murders of Holt’s son and the boy’s grandaunt continues.

The primary suspects are a major Midlands organised crime gang.

Detectives have a number of persons of interest in the case.

It includes a young teenage boy and a man in his late 20s who was closely linked to the one-time perceived leader of the group before his death a number of years ago.

The pair were among targets in raids by gardai before Christmas in Kildare and Offaly, in which clothes, phones and other items were seized.

However no arrests have yet been made directly linked to the murder investigation yet.

Detectives are still trawling through the evidence, such as CCTV and phones, while they are being supported by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Footage of the petrol bomb attack captured two hooded thugs entering the garden of the home in Castleview Park.

One smashed the front window with a metal bar, before the other yob ignited the missile and fired it on top of Tadhg and Mary who were in the front room at the time.

The pair then fled in the Kia Rio car which was being driven by a third associate.

The car – with a 08-D-24363 reg – was recovered burnt out at Tipper East, Naas, Co Kildare in the early hours of the following morning.

The Garda investigation team said they are satisfied that “any previous registered owners of this car are not involved in any way with this murderous attack.”

A spokesman said: “The Garda investigation team want to speak with any person who may have any information on person or persons who had access to this car 08 D 24363 Black Kia Rio Saloon between the 7th October 2025 and 7th December 2025

“Any knowledge of the whereabouts or activities of this car from the 1st December through to the 7th December 2025

“Any CCTV footage/images of the car in Kildare, Laois, Offaly or surrounding areas from the 1st December through to the 7th December 2025.”

He added: “An Garda Síochána continues to appeal to any person with any information on this violent fatal incident to speak with investigating Gardaí.

“An Garda Síochána wants to acknowledge the support and assistance provided to the Garda investigation to this point.

“Any person with information can contact the investigation team in confidence by the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.

“The investigation team can also be contacted at the incident room at Tullamore Garda Station on 057 932 7600 or any Garda Station, in particular Edenderry Garda Station.”