Body of young mother discovered in Co Kerry home

Gardaí appeal for information after woman in her 20s found during a welfare check

Sources said the postmortem had not uncovered conclusive evidence that the deceased met with foul play prior to her death. File photograph: Collins
Sources said the postmortem had not uncovered conclusive evidence that the deceased met with foul play prior to her death. File photograph: Collins

Gardaí investigating the death of a young woman whose remains were found in her home in Co Kerry have appealed for witnesses.

The remains of the woman, aged in her 20s, were found in a property in Lixnaw during a welfare check on Monday.

The woman had young children but they were not with her at the house in the Slí na Faiche estate when the remains were discovered.

A postmortem has been carried out by Assistant State Pathologist Margaret Bolster at University Hospital Kerry. Garda headquarters said the results of the examination were not being released for operational reasons.

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The Irish Times understands the postmortem has not reached conclusive findings on the cause of death and that toxicology reports were being awaited.

Sources said the postmortem had not uncovered conclusive evidence that the deceased met with foul play prior to her death and the case was not being treated as a homicide at this time. However, detectives were keeping an open mind regarding all aspects of the woman’s death.

The toxicology tests awaited are often used in cases of unexplained deaths to determine if a deceased person had consumed anything that may have brought out, or contributed to, their death.

Final hours

Garda investigators were now trying to piece together the dead woman's final hours, including the last people she was with and spoke to before she died. Anyone with information is asked to come forward and contact investigating gardaí at Listowel Garda station.

A Garda statement said officers are “continuing to investigate all the circumstances” surrounding the discovery of the young woman’s body and also confirmed the postmortem had been completed.

"Investigating gardaí maintain an open mind in this investigation and An Garda Síochána is not providing any further information at this time," the statement added.

After the remains were discovered the house was examined by members of the Garda Technical Bureau and a car parked outside the property was also examined and later removed.

Conor Lally

Conor Lally

Conor Lally is Security and Crime Editor of The Irish Times