Gardaí are expected to launch a murder investigation after the death a woman in south Co Dublin.
The deceased was stabbed repeatedly in her home at Clarinda Park East, Dún Laoghaire, this evening.
She was taken to hospital by ambulance but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The dead woman was a 65-year-old widow who worked as a mental health professional.
Gardaí have identified a chief suspect for the killing and he is being questioned tonight at Dún Laoghaire station.
He was well known to the victim and senior sources said they were not looking for anyone else in relation to the killing.
The knife attack was witnessed by at least one other person.
The fatal stabbing occurred inside the victim’s family home just after 5pm.
Gardaí believe a man in his 30s, known to the mother of three grown up children, stabbed her repeatedly inside the property.
A woman in her 30s, believed to be the victim’s daughter, ran on to the street to raise the alarm by shouting that her mother had been stabbed.
The suspect is believed to have followed her out of the house and when a passerby tried to intervene, he suffered a number of injuries after clashing with the man. His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
The suspect is then believed to have gone back into the property. He remained there until the emergency services arrived.
The victim was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken by ambulance to St Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin 4, where she was pronounced dead.
The suspect was arrested at the scene of the stabbing under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. He was taken to Dún Laoghaire Garda station and can be detained there without charge for up to 24 hours.
Neighbour David Songhurst said he had heard a commotion earlier that evening.
“I heard something going on outside. The man was shouting and he had marks on his face. He seemed distressed and was asking someone to call the gardaí,” he said.
“The whole thing is so shocking.”
Another neighbour who did not wish to be named said they were a “private family” and the local community was shocked at the news.
The property remained sealed off tonight and tomorrow will undergo an examination by members of the Garda Technical Bureau.
Gardaí are hopeful of speaking to the dead woman’s daughter who witnessed the attack and believe her account will be central to progress in the investigation, which sources said was moving rapidly.
