Costa del Sol murder: father left confession note Police told the AFP news agency that the family had been living in the house for seven years, but he declined to name them. Neighbours claimed former bank worker Mr Wood had fallen on hard times financially and was struggling to cope with looking after his wife and daughter. One said debt collectors had visited the property last week and the couple had sold off cars they used to own after Mr Wood lost his job. Their British landlord alerted police after discovering them dead when he went to the property to find out why they hadn't paid rent and let himself in with a set of keys. Several neighbours said they heard shots several days ago, sparking speculation the bodies may have lain undiscovered since at least the weekend. Dutch neighbour Elizabeth Van Heyningen, 66, said: "As far as I knew he used to work in a Spanish bank before becoming an estate agent and then losing his job. I think they had run out of money. He used to drive a BMW and his wife had a nice car of her own but then they sold them for a hired Opel they used to drive. In recent weeks I hadn't seen them driving anything and a couple of weeks ago I saw him walking up the hill to his house with heavy bags of shopping. Expat Brit Suzanne Hughes, 58, originally from Manchester, said: "I heard three shots the other day. It wasn't yesterday or the day before that but I can't say exactly when it was. I put it down at the time to someone shooting wild boar. A Malaga-based government spokesman said: "The bodies of three people with bullet wounds have been found at a house near La Cala de Mijas. They are the bodies of a married couple and their daughter. One of the hypotheses being probed is that it was a double murder and suicide but autopsies will be carried out today to establish more. A Civil Guard spokesman in Madrid said the owner of the property contacted them after discovering the bodies. The Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin confirmed the woman and their daughter were Irish passport holders. Officials are attempting to contact their next of kin. The Foreign Office in London said it was "liaising closely" with the local police and was ready to provide consular assistance. A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of the tragic incident involving the death of three family members in Spain. We are liaising closely with the local police and stand ready to provide consular assistance. Those seeking help or advice can contact Samaritans at any time by calling 08457 90 90 90 or emailing jo@samaritans.org