Gardaí investigate death of woman in Limerick and try to trace man with bandaged hand – The Irish Times

As part of their investigation into the violent death of a woman in the city of Limerick, Gardaí are trying to locate a man who has entered a shop with his hand bandaged.

Detectives have questioned store employees and removed a number of items from the premises near the scene of the fatal attack on the woman, who was in her 20s and originally from Romania.

The man is understood to have entered the store with one hand wrapped in a makeshift bandage before washing his hands and exiting the premises.

Gardaí were keen to speak to the man in order to exclude him from their investigation.

The woman’s body was discovered around 1.30pm in a block of flats on Dock Road, just off O’Curry Street. Gardaí said the woman died in a “fatal attack” but they have not given specific details of her injuries. It is believed that she was stabbed.

A Garda forensic team conducted a technical examination of the crime scene, and investigators called in the state pathologist’s office to perform an autopsy.

A Garda spokesman asked for witnesses who had camera footage of Dock Road and O’Curry Street from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. to contact Henry Street Garda Station at (061) 212400, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111 or one to connect other Garda station.

Prayers for the victim were said Tuesday night at the Redemptorist Church a few streets away.

Father Seamus Enright, Rector of the Limerick Congregation, said: “We are appalled that such violence has engulfed our own community. We are thinking of the young woman and all who mourn her in our prayers and will pray especially for her tonight and tomorrow at Mass.

“A death like this reminds us of how precious life is and how we must do whatever it takes to protect and enhance life – and I appeal to all with information to cooperate with An Garda Síochána,” Father Enright said .

The area is frequented by a sizeable migrant community. Local councilor Abul Kalam Azad Talukder urged people to “be careful”.

“If you see anything suspicious, just call your local Garda station, don’t hesitate. The Garda is always there to help and united as a community.

“People in the area are very shocked. In the last five to ten years, this area has improved a lot. It was different 10-15 years ago, but today many young families and working people live here.”

Limerick Fianna Fáil TD Willie O’Dea said: “It is an unspeakable tragedy. Death by violence is always a terrible tragedy, but it’s definitely worse when the person is young, in their 20s, with their whole life ahead of them.

“There are many cameras in the area so some information may be available [to gardaí] So I would ask the public to cooperate fully to ensure there is a successful prosecution of this horrific crime.”