Gardaí are investigating how the body of a Westmeath woman lay undiscovered in her next-door neighbour's back garden for three months.
The decomposed body of Rose Healy (59), Willow Brook, Mullingar, was identified yesterday using dental records. She was discovered by a neighbour behind a small back garden rockery on Sunday afternoon. Foul play is not suspected.
The mother of four was last seen at her home in early December, though the missing person report was only made on February 15th. Since then, gardaí have made a number of appeals for information on the missing woman, who was well known in the area.
Gardaí had carried out a full search of the woman's house and garden, but they had no definite idea where the woman might be.
Last month, senior officers said they were baffled by her disappearance. Ms Healy, who lived alone, did not own a car and had not made any cash withdrawals from accounts held in her name since early December.
Assistant state pathologist Dr Michael Curtis carried out a post-mortem examination on Sunday evening, but the results are still awaited.
A spokesman from the Garda press office confirmed last night that the circumstances of Ms Healy's discovery would be the subject of further investigation.