Irish woman found dead in Netherlands to be laid to rest

Husband of Mary O’Brien-Viguurs held for questioning after death of 64-year-old

The woman was found dead on Monday at her home on Savornin Lohman Street in the city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch). Photograph: Google Maps
The woman was found dead on Monday at her home on Savornin Lohman Street in the city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch). Photograph: Google Maps

A 64-year-old Irish woman found dead at her home in the Netherlands in suspicious circumstances on Monday will be laid to rest in Limerick on Saturday.

Martina O'Brien-Viguurs was originally from Rathkeale, Co Limerick and lived for a long time in Douglas, Cork. The mother of eight was found dead at her home in Den Bosch, in the south of the Netherlands.

She was a grandmother of eleven who moved to the country after marrying a Dutch national.

Police were called to her house at Savornin Lohman in Den Bosch on Monday. Her husband, Arnold Viguurs, was at the scene when officers arrived and was detained for questioning.

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Mr Viguurs appeared before a court in Den Bosch on Thursday.

He attended a brief private hearing before a rights commissioner, who deemed there were sufficient grounds to hold him in custody.

It is understood Mr Viguurs is a retired realtor in his 60s. He will appear before the courts again in the next two weeks when a decision will be made as to whether to proceed with a prosecution.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assistance to the family of the deceased.

Mrs O'Brien-Viguurs lived in Cork city for many years but is a native of Rathkeale. It is believed she and her husband had recently sold their property amid plans to relocate to Ireland.

She is survived by her daughters Tammy, Dawn, Jane, Deirdre, Martina and Aisling and her sons Seán and Seamus.

Mrs O’Brien-Viguurs’ removal will take place from the home of a family member in Douglas on Thursday.

Her requiem mass will be held at St Mary’s Church in Rathkeale on Saturday at 1pm. She will be laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery.