Gardai in Dublin have begun a murder inquiry after the death of a woman in a house in the north of the city. The body of Mrs Joan McCarthy (47) of Ardragh Avenue in Donaghmede was discovered in her daughter's house at Millwood Villas in Edenmore early on Saturday.
Gardai said she had marks around her throat and neck and appeared to have died of asphyxiation.
A married woman with four children, she had arrived at the house on Friday night to baby-sit for her daughter who went out for the night with her partner.
When they returned at 3 a.m. on Saturday they checked on their three-year-old daughter, whom Mrs McCarthy was minding. The child was sleeping and they did not notice anything unusual. But the following morning they were unable to wake Mrs McCarthy after going into her room shortly after 9 a.m.
Her body was taken to Beaumont Hospital where the State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison, carried out a post-mortem yesterday.
Preliminary results indicated the woman had not died of natural causes. The full post-mortem results are expected today.
Gardai in Coolock are co-ordinating the investigation. They said they had an open mind on the case and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
A forensic team was examining the scene yesterday.
Gardai said there was no sign of a break-in at the house or of a struggle. A spokesman said there was no question of a sexual assault.
No arrests have been made.
