DPP to get file on woman murdered in Dublin

Gardaí investigating the murder of a woman in south Dublin earlier this week are to send a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

A 49-year-old man arrested in connection with her death was released without charge last night.

The body of Siobhán Kearney (38) was discovered in the bedroom of a house at Knocknashee, Goatstown on Tuesday morning by a relative who had arrived to visit her. Gardaí who were called to the scene believed she had not been dead for long.

They had initially suspected that she may have taken her own life. However, a murder investigation into her death was launched yesterday following the results of a postmortem carried out by State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy.

The results were not released by gardaí, but it is understood Ms Kearney was strangled.

A 49-year-old man was arrested in connection with the death at 7am yesterday morning and was held at Dundrum Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

The investigation is being led by Supt Liam McCarthy with Det Insp Barry Cummins.

Ms Kearney was married with a three-year-old son and is the sister of Sunday Independent journalist Brigid McLaughlin.

It is understood she had just returned from Spain where she ran a hotel business with her husband, who is a developer. Her son is thought to be staying with relatives.

Yesterday evening a technical examination was continuing at the scene of the murder. Gardaí were examining the bedroom at the house, Carnroe, where Ms Kearney was found.

The four-bedroomed house, which had recently been up for sale, is on the corner site at the entrance to Knocknashee estate, a mature, upmarket development close to the well-known pub, The Goat Inn.

The couple had built a second house next to Carnroe and had hoped to live in it.

The couple had been living in the area for eight years and Ms Kearney's husband grew up in the locality. His parents still live nearby.

Local residents spoke of their shock at the news of Ms Kearney's death.

"I'm very saddened, this is a very quiet area with lots of retired people and professionals, you don't expect a thing like that to happen here," one neighbour said. "It's a terrible thing to happen," another man said.

Staff at local hairdressing salon Gerard Paul said they were shocked at the death of Ms Kearney. "She was a lovely person, very friendly. We only just heard it was her and we can't believe it," said a staff member.