Dad 'strangled his little girl, 6 & then killed himself

GARDAI suspect a dad strangled his six-year-old daughter to death - before taking his own life in a horrific "murder-suicide".

- BY PAUL HEALY Crime Correspondent

Officers are set to launch a murder investigation after the mother of the child discovered her and the father dead in the home at Heathfield Terrace in Cappoge near Finglas, north Dublin, on Saturday night.

The dad, Krzysztof Daczkowski, who was in his 30s and worked as a bus driver, was found by the stairs of the home, sources say.

Locals have told how they heard the mother let out a horrific scream and called for Dublin Fire Brigade, ambulance crews and gardai who rushed to the scene at around 8pm.

Gardai do not believe there was any break-in or third party involvement.

It is feared the dad and his daughter, Julia Daczkowska, lay dead for several hours before the mother arrived home.

The bodies were removed from the home at around midday yesterday and were taken for a postmortem which will determine the course of the investigation.

The tragedy unfolded in the family home on a quiet estate and right opposite a children's playground, which is located on a green area.

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Locals told this newspaper how the young child and her father were often seen in that playground and of their shock that this tragedy had occurred.

One local resident told how a neighbour heard the mother's scream.

They said: "She came out to a horrible scream. It was the mother. Shed just come home from work and found them."