Gardaí (Irish police) are investigating after a woman in her 40s and a man in his 30s were found dead at a house in Bray, County Dublin.
Their bodies were discovered at the property in Cois Cairn, on Old Connaught Avenue, shortly after 08:00 local time on Wednesday.
They have been named locally as couple Bridgid 'Biddy' O'Brien and James McGinn, according to Irish broadcaster RTÉ.
In a statement, gardaí said the outcome of post-mortem examinations would assist in determining the course of the investigation.
The examinations will be carried out by state pathologist over the course of Wednesday and Thursday.
A cordon was put in place in the housing estate on Wednesday morning and a large blue forensic tent was erected at the scene.
A senior officer has been appointed to lead the investigation from an incident room at Dún Laoghaire Garda Station, with support from the Serious Crime Unit.
Family liaison officers are supporting relatives of the deceased.
'A very sad day'
Councillor Malachaí Duddy, Cathaoirleach (Chair) of Bray Municipal District, said the whole community was shocked by the deaths.
"It's a very sad day and it's a tragedy," he told BBC News NI.
"I extend my condolences to the family."
Duddy added that Bray is famed for its sense of community and he had no doubt that local residents would pull together in difficult times.
He urged the public to cooperate with the gardaí and to contact them if they had any information about the deaths.