Man due in court over death of Dundalk woman

A man is due to appear before Drogheda District Court this morning charged in relation to the death of a woman in Dundalk last…

A man is due to appear before Drogheda District Court this morning charged in relation to the death of a woman in Dundalk last Wednesday. Gardaí have named the woman who died as Ms Janet Chaney (48), of Oaklands Park, Cox's Demesne.

Ms Chaney fell ill at her home just before noon on Wednesday. An ambulance was called to the house, and she was taken to Louth County Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 1.10 p.m.

Hospital staff became suspicious when they noticed marks on her body. Gardaí were alerted and the State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, carried out a post-mortem, which revealed that the marks on Ms Chaney's body were consistent with an attack. Gardaí immediately began an investigation.

At about 8.30 a.m. yesterday gardaí arrested a man. He was detained at the Garda station where he was questioned under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

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He was released from the provisions of Section 4 at around 5 p.m., but was detained in custody overnight and was due to appear in Drogheda District Court today at 10 a.m. where he will face charges in relation to Ms Chaney's death.

Ms Chaney lived at her home with her partner. The house was sealed off on Wednesday and yesterday while experts from the Garda Technical Bureau carried out a full examination. The dead woman had three grown-up children who are believed to be living in the UK.

Conor Lally

Conor Lally

Conor Lally is Security and Crime Editor of The Irish Times