Man questioned about Sligo death

Gardai in Sligo were questioning a man last night in connection with the discovery of the body of a woman in a house in the town…

Gardai in Sligo were questioning a man last night in connection with the discovery of the body of a woman in a house in the town on Saturday morning.

They investigated a house in Wolfe Tone Street at 10 a.m. on Saturday and discovered the body of a woman, believed to be from Albania and in her early twenties.

The woman was pronounced dead by a local doctor and the scene was preserved for forensic examination. Gardaí confirmed she died a violent death and are treating the incident as murder.

A non-national was arrested in Sligo yesterday morning under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act and was being questioned last night.

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The State pathologist, Dr Declan Gilsenen, carried out a preliminary post-mortem at the scene on Saturday and a full post-mortem at the morgue at Sligo General Hospital yesterday. Gardaí were not releasing the results last night.

The woman, known locally as "Linda" but believed to have been Ms Lindika Kokaii from Albania, was last seen alive on Friday night socialising with friends at a nightclub before leaving with some people.

She had been living in Sligo town for the past two years, working in various jobs in shops, pubs and nightclubs.

Gardaí confirmed they knew her as one of a number of interpreters employed when dealing with non-nationals in Sligo. They are awaiting the woman's formal identification from a member of her family.

"She had a lot of friends here in the town. She would have been well known in the community," said one garda.

Mr Joe O'Hara lives above his vegetable shop across the road from the victim's house. He knew her as one of his regular customers.

"She would come in here three or four times a week. She was a lovely friendly girl and spoke very good English," Mr O'Hara said yesterday.

Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to come forward who may have seen anything suspicious between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. on Friday night/ Saturday morning.

The scene was still preserved and last night and gardaí were conducting door-to-door inquiries.

An incident room has been set up in Sligo Garda Station. Tel: 071 - 57070.