The car was intercepted near Clontibret but failed to stop for Gardaí.

'An imitation handgun was seized during the search'

The PSNI say he was shot in an alleyway near his home before making his way to the park, where he was discovered.

The man was arrested yesterday afternoon and taken into custody.

The defendant is the half-brother of the children's mother and was 19 when he was left babysitting the children in their home in Co Cavan on a number of occasions during the summer of 2014.