Lynch knew that the Mulligan's 14-year-old daughter was in the house, and as he entered he saw her standing in the kitchen in terror. She had seen at least one of the murders.

"I saw her standing behind a table holding a butcher's knife," Lynch confessed. "She was sobbing with fear and trembling violently. I hadn't been prepared for this so I just stood there staring at her. Then I yelled 'put that knife down' but she didn't move so I yelled again 'put that knife down'.

"She stiffened, her