GARDAÍ INVESTIGATING the suspicious death of a woman in the midlands last week are hoping that DNA tests may help to solve the case.
Detectives believe that the victim, Lillian Scanlon, who was in her 40s, was involved in a row at her home at Valley Court, Athlone, Co Westmeath, around the time of her death in the early hours of last Friday morning. She was discovered dead on the kitchen floor of the house at 10am on Friday by a woman who had stayed in the house overnight.
Gardaí believe that the victim, her house guest, and at least two other people had been drinking in the house on Thursday night. While blood was found at the scene, Ms Scanlon had no obvious trauma injuries.
However, a post-mortem examination revealed bruising to her upper body and gardaí believe these injuries were sustained during the course of an assault. The three other people in the house on Thursday night and into Friday morning have been spoken to by gardaí, but no one has been arrested.
Members of the Garda Technical Bureau carried out extensive testing in the house on Friday. Gardaí believe the results of some of those tests may help to solve the crime. They have examined clothing worn by the people in the house and it is understood that they will use DNA-testing in an attempt to eliminate some people from the inquiry.
It is still unclear if Ms Scanlon died as a result of the assault. However, gardaí believe if they find out who was involved in the assault on the dead woman they will be much closer to solving the case.
Ms Scanlon was dressed in night attire when found. Her pyjama bottoms were partially off but gardaí do not believe she was sexually assaulted.
Ms Scanlon had been living in Athlone for some time, but was originally from Clara, Co Offaly. She was a separated mother of three.
Her death is still officially being treated by gardaí as suspicious rather than as a murder case.
The woman who found the remains on Friday morning told gardaí that she thought the victim was asleep on the kitchen floor and put a blanket over her.
It was only when she tried to wake her that she realised she was dead.
The first gardaí to arrive at the scene noticed the deceased woman’s blood under her body and immediately sealed off the house.