Gardai are conducting a murder inquiry in Kilkenny following the death yesterday of a nurse and mother of three children, who was attacked on a roadside on Monday.
Mrs Marie Hennessy (31), a nurse at Ardkeen Hospital in Waterford, was beaten on the head with a heavy instrument, believed to be a car jack, close to her home in Killaloe, Callan. She was found lying unconscious in a pool of blood beside her car near Killaloe church.
Two of her three daughters, Michelle (3) and Kate (1), were in the car when the attack happened at about 11.45 a.m. on Monday. Her eldest daughter, Claire (6), was in school at the time.
She was rushed to St Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny and transferred from there to Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, where she underwent emergency surgery. She died yesterday shortly before 3 p.m., surrounded by members of her family.
A post-mortem was carried out last night by the deputy State pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy.
Mrs Hennessy suffered a number of blows to the head in what appears to have been a particularly savage attack. She is believed to have known her assailant.
A man was arrested on Monday following the attack but was released from Kilkenny Garda Station after questioning.
It is understood no one else is being sought at this point in connection with the crime. Supt Kevin Donohoe of Kilkenny said no motive had been established for the attack.
Mrs Hennessy's husband, Pat, is manager of Callan employment exchange.
