Suspect in fatal shooting of mother and her two children dies in hospital

The suspect in the fatal shooting of a mother and her two children in Northern Ireland has died.

Ian Rutledge, a 43-year-old agricultural worker, had himself suffered a gunshot wound during the attack in the village of Maguiresbridge in County Fermanagh on Wednesday morning.

He was taken to hospital where he remained in a serious condition until the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) announced he had died on Monday evening.

It is understood he was the only suspect in the murder investigation.

Vanessa Whyte, 45, a vet originally from County Clare, her son James, 14, and daughter Sara, 13, were all shot dead at a property on Drummeer Road during the attack.

The PSNI said last week that all four people who were shot were members of the same household.

Police have been investigating whether the attack was a triple murder and attempted suicide.

A prayer service took place for Ms Whyte and the two children in Barefield, County Clare on Sunday, following a community vigil in Maguiresbridge last Friday.

A funeral service is expected to take place in County Clare later this week.

Following Mr Rutledge's death, the PSNI said detectives have "reiterated their appeal for anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward".

It comes after the PSNI issued an appeal on Saturday for information involving the movements of a vehicle.

They have asked anyone who saw a silver Mercedes saloon car being driven in the Clones Road area of Newtownbutler, or between Maguiresbridge and Newtownbutler, on the evening of Tuesday 22 July to call detectives on 101.

Read more from Sky News:
Lionesses celebrate Euros triumph at No 10
Trump reignites row with London mayor
The view from a plane dropping aid to Gaza

Tributes paid to 'lovely-natured' children

A local Gaelic football club said last week that Ms White and her children were all "active and beloved" members of their club.

Sara and James Rutledge also used to be part of a local cricket club, which said in a statement that it was "extremely saddened by the tragic events".

"Both of them turned out to be talented young cricketers and two absolutely lovely-natured children," the statement read.

Flowers, teddy bears and an Arsenal football top with written notes were laid close to scene of the incident in Drummeer Road in the days after the shooting.