Murders of Eoghan and Ruairi Chada

On 28 July 2013, 10-year-old Eoghan Chada and 5-year-old Ruairi Chada were abducted from their home in County Carlow in Ireland by their father, Sanjeev Chada. Both children were found deceased the following day on the opposite side of the country in County Mayo.[1]

Background

Eoghan and Ruairi Chada were the children of Kathleen (née Murphy) and Sanjeev Chada and resided in Ballinkillin, Bagenalstown, County Carlow. Both children attended Ballinkillen National School.[2]

Kathleen Chada was a nurse working within the IVF industry.[3] Sanjeev Chada was an IT consultant and volunteer with Ballinkillen Community Centre. At the time of the murders, a Garda investigation was underway into over €50,000 that had gone missing from the community centre. Chada had been under investigation in relation to the missing money, but hadn't been questioned.[4]

10 days prior to the murder, Kathleen learned that Sanjeev had taken €56,000 from the community centre to after he ran up debts gambling on the stock market. She believed they would be able to repay the debts and had no intentions of leaving Sanjeev.[5]

Disappearance

On the evening of Sunday 28 July 2013, Sanjeev Chada informed Kathleen Chada that he was taking the boys bowling in Carlow Town.[6] When they failed to return home, they were reported missing at 1:30am on the morning of Monday 29 July 2013.[7] Kathleen belived Sanjeev had fled due to his debts.[5] Following the disappearances, Gardaí issued their first ever Child Rescue Ireland Alert following its launch in May 2012.[8]

Murder and discovery

At approximately 5:00am on Monday 29 July 2013, Sanjeev Chada used a rope to strangle both boys.[9] Eoghan Chada was found to have also suffered broken ribs, a broken hip bone, and a broken collarbone.[10]

At approximately 3:15pm on Monday 29 July 2013, a passersby came upon Sanjeev Chada's car crashed into a wall in Rossbeg, outside Westport, County Mayo. Chada had a rope in his hand and appeared to be attempting to choke himself. A passerby who was on holiday in the area opened the boot of the car and discovered the bodies of Eoghan and Ruairi Chada there. After Gardaí arrived, a passing doctor stopped and examined Sanjeev Chada and checked that the boys were deceased. They were pronounced dead at 3:45pm [11][9]

Sanjeev Chada was taken to hospital with minor injuries following the crash and discovery of the bodies.[12]

Prior to being taken to hospital, a passerby who had come to his aid gave Sanjeev Chada a loan of a mobile phone which he used to call Kathleen and informed her of the death of their children, saying, "They’re dead in the back."[5]

Investigation and sentencing

Following Sanjeev Chada's release from hospital, he was charged with the murder of his sons.[13] A month before his trial was due to begin, he pled guilty to both murders and received two mandatory life sentences.[1][14]

In interviews, Sanjeev Chada disclosed that at one point, he had been €500,000 in debt from his gambling. Sanjeev believed his marriage to Kathleen was over now that his fraud was exposed and wanted to spare his children from coming from a broken home.[15] In his statements to Gardaí, Sanjeev Chada admitted that he had also planned to kill his wife, Kathleen, but didn't believe he would be able to as she was too strong.[16]

Sanjeev Chada applied for parole in 2026, 12 years into his sentence.[17]

Aftermath

Following the murder of her sons, Kathleen Chada became a founding member of the charity Sentencing And Victim Equality (SAVE), which calls for a number of sentencing reforms, including requiring the full minimum sentences be completed before becoming eligible for parole and ending the use of concurrent sentencing.[18][19]

In 2013, Kathleen Chada published a memoir, Everything, about the murders.[20]

In July 2026 The Irish Sun published a podcast, Forever My Boys, about the murders.[21]

References

  1. 1 2 "Sanjeev Chada admits murdering his two young sons in Westport". BBC News. 2014-10-07. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  2. ↑ Kane, Conor. "Community struggles to comprehend deaths of Eoghan and Ruairí Chada". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  3. ↑ "'A beautiful person has just lost her family'". Irish Independent. 2013-07-30. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  4. ↑ O’Keeffe, Cormac (2013-08-01). "Missing money 'an ingredient' in Sanjeev's actions, say gardaí". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  5. 1 2 3 "'They're dead in the back, were the words he used' – Kathleen Chada on moment husband told her he'd killed their sons". Irish Independent. 2023-05-06. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  6. ↑ "Child Rescue Ireland (CRI) Alert missing children Co.Carlow 29th July 2013". Garda. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  7. ↑ "Update : Garda Child Rescue Ireland (CRI) Alert 29th July 2013 – 1445 hours". Garda. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  8. ↑ "Child rescue alert swings into action for the first time – but sadly ends in tragedy". Irish Independent. 2013-07-30. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  9. 1 2 "Unlawful killing verdict at Chada inquest". 2014-11-21. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. ↑ Curran, Faye. "'This can be their voice': Kathleen Chada publishes memoir 10 years after sons' deaths". Newstalk. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  11. ↑ Edwards, Elaine. "Chada inquest: Murdered boys 'seemed to be at peace'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  12. ↑ "Father of Eoghan and Ruairi Chada arrested in County Mayo". BBC News. 2013-07-31. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  13. ↑ Association, Press (2013-08-02). "Father charged with boys' murder". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  14. ↑ MacGuill, Dan (2014-10-07). "Two life sentences for Sanjeev Chada for killing his sons Eoghan and Ruairi". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  15. ↑ "Chada sentenced to life for sons' murder". Irish Independent. 2014-10-17. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  16. ↑ "'He has robbed Eoghan, Ruairi and I of everything... and left me with a double life sentence'". Irish Independent. 2014-10-08. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  17. ↑ "Mother's fear over parole bid by man who killed sons". RTE. 2026-04-01.
  18. ↑ Leogue, Joe (2019-06-10). "Families campaign to ensure killers stay in prison". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  19. ↑ McMahon, Aine. "Mother living a 'life sentence' after husband murdered children". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  20. ↑ Byrne, Stephen (2023-05-10). "Kathleen Chada launches her book "Everything" in Leighlinbridge". KCLR 96FM. Retrieved 2026-07-21.
  21. ↑ "New podcast recalls murder of Eoghan and Ruairí Chada by their father - News - Carlow Nationalist". carlow-nationalist.ie. 2026-07-21. Retrieved 2026-07-21.
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