Murder investigation launched over woman’s death in Mayo

Gardaí in Mayo have begun a murder investigation after receiving the results of a postmortem on the body of a woman found in a house near Balla, Co Mayo yesterday.

They are continuing to question a man about the death of the mother-of-two, named this evening as Sarah Staunton (28).

A man in his early 20s was arrested in the Castlebar area last night. Detectives detained him under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

He can be held in custody until tomorrow.

Ms Staunton's body was discovered at a house in a rural area outside the village of Balla at around midday yesterday. Assistant state pathologist Dr Michael Curtis carried out a preliminary examination of the body at the scene last night.

It was then removed to Mayo General Hospital where a full postmortem examination was carried out.