GARDAÍ HAVE begun a murder investigation after the remains of a woman were found in Dublin’s Phoenix Park. The body was found at about 5.30pm yesterday by two women out walking.
The body, believed to be that of a homeless woman aged between 40 and 60, was found wrapped in a sleeping bag near Military Road close to the Islandbridge gate.
Sources said it appeared that the woman had been dead for up to 48 hours before she was discovered. Gardaí were alerted immediately the body was found and the scene was sealed off.
Members of the Garda Technical Bureau will examine the area in a bid to establish how the woman died. Gardaí believe the victim may have been killed elsewhere.
Assistant State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis was examining the remains at the scene late last night. A full postmortem will take place today.
Garda sources said that area of the park where the body was found is regularly frequented by homeless people. “One concern at this stage is that no homeless people have come forward to report any of their own missing, which would usually happen,” said a Garda source.
It is expected fingerprints will be taken from the remains to cross-check against Garda print databases in the event nobody comes forward to help identify the victim.
Gardaí last night held a murder case conference at Cabra garda station. They appealed for anybody who has been in the area since Tuesday to contact them.
