Gardaí in Tipperary have issued an appeal to the public in an attempt to identify a woman found in Urlingford, Co Kilkenny, almost six weeks ago.
She is suffering from memory loss and does not know her own identity.
The woman, who speaks with a Northern Irish accent, claims to come from Co Antrim. She has no recollection of how she came to be in the Urlingford area and has been in hospital at St Joseph's in Clonmel since she was found on Monday, July 7th.
She calls herself Elizabeth Sands and is believed to be in her early 30s. She has a tattoo on her left forearm which reads "Deirdre Fran", with a heart. She has another tattoo on her right forearm which reads "Deirdre".
Sgt Kevin Quinn in Thurles Garda station said gardaí are satisfied the woman is not who she says she is. "We've checked it out in the North and we are satisfied it is not her name."
He added gardaí believe she does not know who she is or how she got to Urlingford. The woman was found in a restaurant in the town on the afternoon of July 7th after staff became concerned when she started acting erratically.
She had no identification when found and believed she was in Northern Ireland. Gardaí say she may have travelled to Urlingford by bus or got a lift. They also say there is a possibility the names or her arms are part of her own name. She had no injuries when found.
"We are appealing to anyone out there who knows of somebody who has gone missing who fits her description to come forward," Sgt Quinn said.
The woman is 5 ft 6 ins, with auburn hair and grey/green eyes. When she was found she was wearing a fawn/white corduroy bomber jacket with fur trim, with white/fawn jeans and a white/ivory sweater. Anybody with information is asked to contact Thurles Garda station on 0504-25100.
