Gardaí have confirmed that a woman whose body was found on beach in Co Clare yesterday died a violent death.
The said while they have not yet upgraded the investigation into the death of Deirdre McCarthy (43) to a murder inquiry, they are treating it with the utmost seriousness.
Ms McCarthy's body was found on Fanore beach, about 15km from Ballyvaughan. A man out walking saw it at about 7.40am and reported it.
The body was removed to the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick for a postmortem this morning. The results have not been released however a garda spokesman said from the investigation so far it is known Ms McCarthy died in “violent and suspicious circumstances”.
He said: “We think that whatever happened to Deirdre the answer lies within the local community, a community now shook as a result of her death.”
Ms McCarthy was last seen alive on Sunday night and the alarm was raised on Monday afternoon. It is understood investigators have secured CCTV footage from businesses and will check this in an effort to establish Ms McCarthy’s last movements.
She had been socialising locally on Sunday night and gardaí are trying to establish who dropped her home. They are satisfied she did enter her home, as the clothing she was wearing on Sunday was found inside.
Gardaí are especially keen to speak to people who may have noticed suspicious activity at or in the vicinity of Turlough House or on the roads in and out of Ballyvaughan, Lisdoonvarna, or Kilfanora, between 11.30pm on Sunday and 7am on Monday.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Ennistymon Garda Station 065-7072180, or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.