Murder inquiry is launched into death of woman

A large-scale murder investigation was launched yesterday into the death of Ms Rachel O'Reilly at her home in Naul, north Co Dublin, two days after her body was discovered with severe head injuries.

Gardaí said the results of a post-mortem indicated that she had received several blows to the head with a blunt instrument.

There were no signs of a struggle between Ms O'Reilly and her attacker, suggesting the woman may have been struck from behind as she returned to her home on Monday morning after dropping her children to school. Gardaí said they had discovered drawers pulled out in the kitchen and sitting room of the house, indicating a possible burglary.

However, Supt Tom Gallagher of Balbriggan Garda station said there was no definite line of inquiry at this stage. "Items were disturbed. It was potentially a burglary. But we cannot confirm anything is gone from the house."

He added that, contrary to some reports, "we don't have a murder weapon. We are still searching hedgerows and drains in the vicinity for a weapon, and for clothes that may have been discarded, and that will continue for the next couple of days."

He noted the mainly rural community had experienced burglaries in the past, and these normally occurred in the middle of the day. But, he said, "we've certainly never had a violent incident like this before".

Gardaí were continuing to carry out door-to-door inquiries yesterday, and mounted checkpoints between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. to interview regular motorists in the area.

Forensic experts were also continuing to examine Ms O'Reilly's car and her bungalow home at Baldarragh, which is to remain closed off until the weekend. Only family members are to be brought in today to try to identify whether anything was taken from the house by the attacker.

Supt Gallagher said gardaí were still appealing for anyone who was travelling in the area, or who may have seen something suspicious, on Monday morning to contact them.

"We have had a brilliant response so far. Lots of people have come forward and we have been able to eliminate them from our investigations."

About 35 gardaí have been deployed to the murder investigation, including detectives from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and officers from Dundalk and Ashbourne Garda stations.

The State pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, carried out further tests yesterday to try to establish a time of death.

The body of Ms O'Reilly (30) will not be released until the tests are completed later today.

The mother of two was last seen at about 9.30 a.m. on Monday when she dropped her two young children to local national and Montessori schools.