A priest in Ballymena yesterday spoke of his shock at the circumstances surrounding the death of a 62-year-old woman whose body lay undiscovered in her home for several days over the Christmas period.
Fr Paul Symonds said prayers for Mary McLaughlin at morning Mass in the Church of Our Lady in Harryville.
Mrs McLaughlin's body was found in her home at Shetland Gardens in the Ballykeel Two housing estate in Ballymena on Monday by police after neighbours became concerned.
Officers found her body lying on the livingroom floor, and it is believed she may have been dead for two or three weeks.
"Everybody in the church was devastated when they heard the news," Fr Symonds said yesterday.
Funeral arrangements were being made, and Fr Symonds said he had spoken to a member of Mrs McLaughlin's family, and it is possible that a funeral service will be held today.
A spokesman for the PSNI, which is assisting the coroner as is routine following a sudden death, said: "As a result of the postmortem examination carried out this morning, we do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death."
Fr Symonds said Mrs McLaughlin lived on her own. "The neighbours spoke very warmly and affectionately about her."
Mrs McLaughlin was often seen out walking her two Pomeranian dogs, and after her death the pets were taken into the care of Ballymena Borough Council and relatives were contacted.
The dogs were in the house when police gained access and may have survived for the two- to-three-week period by drinking water out of a toilet. They are said not to have suffered any major health effects.
Ballymena SDLP councillor Declan O'Loan urged the community to check up on elderly relatives and neighbours.
"This is a very sad occurrence, and I would like to express sympathy to family and also neighbours," he said.
"For an old lady to die on her own and then to be left and not found for a period of days, that is something that rightly distresses us all.
"She was well known in the community and liked. She interacted with the children there. At this time of year it is winter and an elderly person might only be out when they have to."
An Age Concern spokeswoman said: "It is obviously a very tragic story, particularly at this time of year, and we would appeal to people to look after and look out for their older neighbours and to raise concerns particularly if you don't see them around for a few days."