Known sex offenders in the Co Cork area are being interviewed by gardai as the hunt continues for the killer of a young woman whose body was found near her Ballincollig home last Thursday.
The fully-clothed body of Ms Rachel Kiely (23) was found on waste ground at about 8 p.m. after her mother, Mrs Rose Kiely, raised the alarm when she failed to return home. Ms Kiely had left home at 4.30 p.m. to walk her dogs in an amenity area beside playing pitches. When the dogs returned alone a search by gardai, neighbours and friends was organised.
Gardai confirmed that known sex offenders were being interviewed as part of the murder hunt which includes a team of up to 50 detectives. The register of sex offenders is being checked, and psychiatric hospitals have been asked to provide details of patients who were released recently.
According to one member of the team, the response from the public has been overwhelming, and one caller to the incident room at Gurranabraher Garda station (tel: (021) 4395540) has pinpointed the last sighting of Ms Kiely in the park as 5.10 p.m. on Thursday.
Over the weekend gardai conducted house-to-house interviews in the huge Inishmore Estate.
A trained beautician, Ms Kiely had returned to Cork from Italy two months ago. A member of the 200-strong Jehovah's Witnesses community in Cork, she was described by neighbours as a quiet-spoken young woman who was well liked.
Mothers of children who play in the park near where the body was discovered have said they will fear for the safety of the youngsters until the killer is caught.
Although the post-mortem results have not been revealed, it is understood that Ms Kiely was strangled. While a sexual motive has not been ruled out, there was no evidence that Ms Kiely had been sexually assaulted.
The fear is that the killer, who was probably acting alone, was disturbed at the scene and may strike again.
Prayers for the dead woman were said at local churches yesterday. The funeral will take place tomorrow to St Oliver's Cemetery after a service at the Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall in Cork.