This is absolutely awful news this morning.
A man in his 30s, named as Stephen Hartnett, has been arrested in Bray and charged with assault causing serious harm to four young children.
It is reported that the man ran to a neighbouring house in distress and said that he thought the children were dead.
Emergency services were called and the children were discovered unconscious, but alive.
It is believed that their injuries were consistent with attempted strangulation or suffocation.
The children – two boys and two girls aged between 3 and 11 – were rushed to hospital and later released.
It is understood that they are doing well physically, but are understandably completely traumatised.
The mother of the children is not believed to have been at home when the incident took place.
While we don’t yet have the full picture, I know that all of us parents have a million questions and scenarios going through our heads right now.
Thankfully, the children are alive – and that’s the best outcome for now.
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