The Garda murder investigation into the deaths of a mother and her two young sons in Castledaly, Co Westmeath, will centre on the immediate area of the family home where they were found dead on Saturday.
Ms Debbie Fox (30) and her sons, Trevor (9) and Killian (7), were killed in an apparent attack at their home in the village between Moate and Athlone on Friday night or early Saturday morning.
Their remains were removed to Longford-Westmeath General Hospital in Mullingar for post-mortems, which showed they had all sustained serious multiple injuries.
It is understood all three had stab wounds, and possibly other injuries inflicted with a blunt instrument.
A knife and a hurley stick found in the house were removed for examination by the Garda Technical Bureau. Mr Greg Fox (32), the husband and father of the dead woman and children, was found unconscious in the family shop adjoining the house. He was removed by ambulance to Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe, Co Galway. His injuries were described yesterday as "not serious" and his condition was comfortable.
Mr Fox was moved to a private room in the hospital yesterday, where a Garda presence was being maintained last night. The Garda has confirmed that officers will interview Mr Fox when he is discharged from hospital.
The Technical Bureau and local gardai were at the scene of the incident throughout Saturday afternoon. The Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, carried out preliminary examinations of the bodies before they were removed to hospital.
Supt Kevin Donohoe of Athlone station, who is in charge of the investigation, described the scene inside the house on Saturday morning as "horrific".
He did not wish to speculate on what may have happened, pending an inquiry.
Ms Fox and her two children were found dead at their home by neighbours on Saturday morning. Local people became concerned when they noticed the family shop had not opened for business.
When gardai gained access, Ms Fox was found dead in the kitchen with serious injuries. The two boys were found dead in separate bedrooms, also with serious injuries. There was a lot of blood at the scene, Garda sources said.
The post-mortems showed that the three members of the family had suffered multiple wounds, believed to include stab wounds and possibly other injuries.
The Fox family moved to Castledaly about 18 months ago. They ran a small shop and petrol station, which they had bought from a local man, Mr Sean Kelly. Ms Fox was from Portarlington, Co Laois. Her husband, Mr Greg Fox, is from Dublin. Ms Fox's family travelled to Mullingar on Friday evening to identify the remains.
A Garda spokesman said full results from the post-mortems would not be immediately available.
He confirmed the Garda wished to interview the husband of the dead woman in connection with the investigation.