THE FATHER of a Irish woman killed in Tenerife on Christmas Eve has said her family is devastated and in absolute shock at the death.
Lisa McConway, a 28-year-old mother of one, was beaten to death in her apartment in the early hours of Christmas Eve in what is believed to have been an extremely brutal attack.
Ms McConway’s father, Jim McConway, speaking from the family home in Blackrock, Co Dublin, last night, said they had received very little information about the death of their daughter.
“We know absolutely nothing. We got a call from a friend of Lisa’s late on Christmas Eve – it was a complete shock. To say we are devastated is an understatement. She was a really great kid – it’s such an absolute shock.”
It is believed Ms McConway’s three-year-old son is being cared for by a close friend of the dead woman.
Mr McConway said his daughter never planned on living in Tenerife. “It was meant to be a temporary thing, but she decided to stay longer and was working in a restaurant on the island. She was a very talented cook.”
A police investigation into her murder continues after a blood-stained baseball bat was found in the victim’s apartment where neighbours said they heard a “violent row” erupt about 3am local time.
Spanish police have since arrested Ms McConway’s Welsh boyfriend in connection with the incident.
Speaking about the arrest, Mr McConway said: “I know he’s a suspect but beyond that I don’t know anything else about what happened.” He said the only official contact he has received was a call from the British Foreign Office on Christmas Day to confirm Ms McConway’s death.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin said they had received no request for consular assistance.
Mr McConway said: “I’m hitting the ground [in Tenerife] Monday myself to see what’s going on. There have been many conflicting reports and we know only what we’ve been reading in the newspapers and on the internet.”
An autopsy to establish the cause of death has been completed but it is understood the results have yet to be brought before a Spanish court as is required under Spanish law.
Mr McConway said the family intended to fly Lisa home for burial. “We have no idea at the moment as to when her body will be returned to us,” he added.
Ms McConway attended Mount Anville secondary school in Stillorgan, after which she went on to study social science in Durham University in England.