Gardaí have opened an investigation into the death of a woman who was discovered with serious injuries in Co Limerick on Tuesday.
The woman, named locally as Louise Muckell, (50s), Cois Deel, Rathkeale, died at University Hospital Limerick on Wednesday. Gardaí said she had been found with “serious injuries” around 8.30pm, at a residence at Cois Deel, on Tuesday night.
She was taken by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick where she subsequently died.
The State Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster, was conducting a postmortem on the victim’s body on Thursday, and the results of the autopsy “will determine the course of the Garda investigation”, said a Garda spokesman. Gardaí would not comment on the nature of Ms Muckell’s injuries.
“The scene at Cois Deel, Rathkeale, was preserved and a technical examination has been conducted. Gardaí in Limerick had attended an incident that occurred in the Windmill Street area of Limerick earlier on the evening of Tuesday 19th July and enquiries to date suggest that the deceased may have frequented a residence on Windmill Street in the day or days prior to her discovery with serious injuries on the 19th July 2022,” said the Garda spokesman.
Gardaí are investigating if the woman suffered an assault following the earlier incident in the Windmill Street area.
Ms Mucknell was said locally to have been a retired teacher who had taught piano in the former Sisters of Mercy secondary school in Rathkeale and to have been known in the area previously for her singing in the local church. She is said to have been a well thought of figure who is understood to have had family living in the surrounding area but who lived alone.
One local source said that there was considerable shock in the area as news circulated over the last 24 hours of her death.
Gardaí said they are appealing for witnesses who were in the Windmill Street area of Limerick City or the Cois Deel area of Rathkeale between Sunday and Tuesday who saw anything unusual to come forward.
“Any people who may have camera footage (including dashcam and CCTV) of either area between these dates are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí,” the Garda said.
“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Henry Street Garda station on 061 212400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.”
