A man arrested early on Sunday morning in connection with the death of a woman in a residential centre for homeless people in Dún Laoghaire was released without charge last night. A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Gardaí were called to Crosscare’s Bentley House facility on George’s Place, Dún Laoghaire, shortly before 11pm on Saturday after the 28-year-old woman was found dead in one of the self-contained units at the centre.
The woman, who was from south Dublin, was found to have facial injuries and what appear to be ligature marks around her neck.
Garda sources said the woman’s facial injuries were very minor and they believe the marks on her neck most likely hold the key to the manner of her death.
A post-mortem was carried out yesterday and the results are due this afternoon. Gardaí say the direction of their investigation cannot be determined until they are known.
The dead woman’s partner was staying with her in Bentley House and was at the scene when the alarm was raised on Saturday night
A man was arrested just before 5am yesterday morning. He is aged 33 and from Dublin’s inner city.
Garda sources said the woman’s facial injuries were very minor and they believe the marks on her neck most likely hold the key to the manner of her death.
The scene was sealed off immediately after gardaí arrived. The unit where the woman’s body was found was given a full technical examination yesterday by members of the Garda technical bureau.
It is understood the dead woman and the arrested man both have a history of drug use.
A spokesman for Crosscare, a social care agency, said the organisation was assisting the Garda investigation in any way it could.
The agency’s facility in Dún Laoghaire provides short-term emergency accommodation to homeless people.
Staff at the centre carry out a needs assessment of all newly-arrived residents.
The centre then seeks to address issues with residents, which in many cases include alcoholism and drug addiction.