A 23-year-old man from west Clare was last night charged in connection with the death of Kilrush woman Anne Walsh (23).
The man, from Cooraclare, was charged in Kilrush Garda station at 5.30pm with assault causing serious harm to Ms Walsh at Toler Street, Kilrush, on Wednesday.
Ms Walsh's body was found by gardaí in the grounds of St Senan's Church, Toler Street, Kilrush, shortly after 11pm on Wednesday.
The man was arrested near the scene by gardaí that night under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act and was brought to Kilrush Garda station.
The man's period of detention was extended by a further six hours yesterday.
At the end of his detention, the man was charged under Section 4 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act with assault and causing serious harm to Ms Walsh.
The man was last night in custody and is to appear before a special sitting of Kilrush District Court today.
Ms Walsh attended Kilrush Community School and was last night described by principal Rock Kirwin "as a lovely girl, very helpful, obliging and kind".
Mr Kirwin said:
"It has come as an awful shock to the school that someone who has been here right through her school years has passed away in such circumstances."
Deputy mayor of Kilrush, Stephen O'Gorman (FF), said yesterday: "For such a small town and small community - which is devastated by this news - it is hard to come to terms with what has happened and our sympathies go to the mother and father of this girl.
"Everyone now is feeling the same - just shock right down to the core of your body."
