Couple found at isolated Limerick farmhouse may have been dead for weeks

A woman found dead at an isolated farmhouse in Co Limerick, along with a man in his 50s, is thought to have been at the centre of a PSNI fraud investigation.

Julia Holmes, from Northern Ireland, has been the subject of a major police hunt.

Her body was discovered along with the body of a man named locally as Thomas Ruttle at his home in Boolaglass, Askeaton, Co Limerick in the early hours of Monday.

It emerged in recent weeks that the 63-year-old grandmother had been living in Co Limerick.

The grim discovery was made at 3am in an upstairs bedroom of the recently renovated farmhouse, located on the R518 between Askeaton and Rathkeale.

It is understood Ms Holmes and Mr Ruttle were in a relationship, but the couple had not been seen together since the middle of March.

The cause of their deaths has not been confirmed but it is believed a shotgun was found in the house.

Garda sources have confirmed the bodies may have been at the scene for “a number of weeks”.

“We do not know how these people met their death. They have not been formally identified and we are waiting to inform next of kin,” said a Garda spokesman.

The bodies have been removed from the scene to University Hospital Limerick, where State Pathologist Prof Marie Cassidy will carry out a postmortem.

The house where the bodies were discovered remains sealed off and a technical examination is still under way.

“This comes as a deep shock to the the community. It’s a very tranquil part of Askeaton with a large number of respectable families and farms in the area,” said local Independent Councillor Emmet O’Brien.

Grim discovery

Local woman and neighbour Elma Barry expressed her shock at news of the grim discovery.

“I’m just in total shock really that something like this can happen next door to you. I would have known the owner of the house just by name and to see him but not on a personal basis.

“It’s a very close knit community, everybody knows everyone to a certain degree, you wouldn’t necessarily be in and out of everyone’s houses but everybody would be familiar with who is around.

“I got a phone call from my husband at 8am this morning - he told me what had happened. I would have passed here at 7.45am on my way to work and I saw the gardaí around but I didn’t know what the activity was about.”

Of Thomas Ruttle, one local man said: “He was left the house by his mother. They are a very respectable family.”

Originally from Co Down, Julia Holmes, who is alleged to have used different aliases including Croen Ruttle, Dr Watson, Julia Watson and Celia Watson, is wanted by the PSNI after going on the run in 2011 when she was due to stand trial for fraud offences.

She was deported from the US in 2006 after she was arrested in connection with a half-a-million-dollar property scam in Texas.

The 63-year-old, who has more than 20 convictions, was jailed in 2009 for 21 months after she was convicted of fraud offences.

Gardaí at Newcastle West are investigating.

They are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to contact them at Newcastle West Garda station on 069 20650, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666111, or any Garda station.